Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment

In the United States, actress Blake Lively has recently initiated legal proceedings against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging multiple instances of sexual harassment during the filming of 'It Ends With Us', an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel. The lawsuit, revealed months after the film's release, outlines accusations of Baldoni exhibiting inappropriate behavior, leading to severe emotional distress for Lively. She claims that Baldoni made unwanted inquiries regarding her weight and made comments about her deceased father. Furthermore, she states that he showed her inappropriate content and discussed topics such as sexual conquests and alleged pornography addiction, thus creating a toxic working environment. The situation escalated to a point where an emergency meeting was called, attended by various individuals, including Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds. During this meeting, Lively put forward several demands relating to her comfort on set, including prohibitions against showing her nude content or making inappropriate comments. These stipulations were reportedly approved by the film's studio, Sony Pictures. Despite these demands being met, Lively alleges that Baldoni retaliated by launching a campaign to tarnish her reputation, which she claims was fueled by negative portrayals in the media following the movie’s release. Interestingly, both Lively and Baldoni are claimed to have had creative differences regarding the film's promotion. Lively favored a narrative focusing on her character's resilience, while Baldoni wished to emphasize the serious themes of domestic violence central to the story. Their lack of public appearances together during promotional activities only heightened speculation about their relationship and alleged tensions. This dispute seemingly contributed to the growing discontent and backlash against Lively, who was criticized in various interviews for her perceived trivialization of the film's themes. After the film's premiere, which was rife with controversy, Lively's image suffered considerable damage, leading her to take legal action against Baldoni. His team has fervently denied her claims, calling them fraudulent and unsubstantiated. Baldoni's lawyer contends that the lawsuit is a desperate attempt by Lively to repair her public persona following a spate of negative press. Moreover, they assert that her behavior on set was divisive and problematic, claiming she even threatened not to participate in promotions for the film if her demands were not fulfilled. The duo’s ongoing feud raises questions about the future of any prospective sequels to the film, illustrating the complexities of maintaining professional relationships in Hollywood amidst personal conflicts.