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Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni over alleged sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us has rocked Hollywood. The legal drama reveals on-set tensions, personal grievances, and a toxic working environment during the production of the hit romantic drama. Here’s…Read More
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during production.
The journey of It Ends With Us—the highly anticipated adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel—appeared smooth on the surface. Starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the romantic drama resonated with fans, grossing $350 million worldwide and achieving a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the film’s success was overshadowed by reports of on-set tensions, strained relationships, and personal grievances. These whispers grew louder until Blake Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit against Justin Baldoni brought the issues into sharp focus. Below is a comprehensive timeline detailing the events that led to one of Hollywood’s most talked-about controversies.
Summer 2024: Early Rumors and Social Media Clues
Months before the film’s release, eagle-eyed fans noticed strange social media dynamics. None of the principal cast members—including Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Isabela Ferrer, and Alex Neustaedter—followed Justin Baldoni on Instagram, though he followed all of them. Notably, author Colleen Hoover also did not follow Justin, adding fuel to the speculation about tensions behind the scenes.
These social media observations coincided with Justin’s conspicuous absence from press events. While Blake and her co-stars were actively promoting the film through interviews and appearances, Justin did not participate in any of these engagements. Initial rumors suggested his absence was due to a hospitalization, but fans began to suspect there was more to the story.
August 6, 2024: Premiere Night Drama
The New York City premiere of It Ends With Us offered further evidence of behind-the-scenes discord. While all the cast members attended, Justin did not pose for photos with the rest of the team. Instead, he chose to remain separate throughout the evening.
According to Page Six, “Baldoni sat in his one theater at AMC Lincoln Square with family, friends and execs from Sony and Baldoni’s production company, while Lively watched the movie in a different theater with her own guests.”
The lack of interaction was glaring, especially given Justin’s dual roles as director and co-star. Adding to the intrigue, Jenny Slate gave a red carpet interview that seemed to subtly critique Justin’s handling of his responsibilities. When asked about his work as both director and actor, she said, “I just found myself being like, ‘Wow, I really just want to have one job at once.’ And in fact, I’ve often felt that way. I love acting. I just want to do it.”
Her comments avoided directly addressing Justin’s direction and hinted at the challenges of juggling multiple roles on set.
August 8-15, 2024: Reports of On-Set Tensions and Misconduct Emerge
In the days following the premiere, media outlets began publishing reports of tensions during production. A Hollywood Reporter article revealed that post-production was marred by disagreements. Blake reportedly commissioned her own cut of the film, leading to speculation about creative conflicts. While insiders claimed such scenarios were not uncommon, the revelation underscored the fractured relationships within the team.
Amid these revelations, more troubling allegations about Justin’s behavior surfaced. Page Six reported that he had created an “extremely difficult” environment on set and made Blake feel “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body. A Daily Mail source went further, claiming, “During scenes depicting abuse, Justin failed to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, instead focusing solely on what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint. His approach was very chauvinistic, creating a tense atmosphere on set.”
TMZ added to the controversy on August 12 by releasing footage of a heated argument between Blake and Justin on set. In the video, Blake appeared visibly frustrated while discussing a scene Justin was directing.
August 20-31, 2024: Public Support for Blake and Cast Allegiances Become Clear
As the allegations gained traction, Blake received vocal support from her colleagues and family. Co-star Brandon Sklenar took to Instagram to defend her, urging fans to focus on the film’s message rather than the drama, “Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film…seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about.”
Blake’s brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, also weighed in, describing her as “an exceptional role model” and hinting that the full truth had yet to emerge, “Blake worked harder on this film than anything I’ve seen her do in my entire life. The message is in the book. And in the movie. Not in short clips/interviews.”
At the same time, Justin attempted to repair his reputation. On August 31, he shared an Instagram post addressing domestic violence survivors, writing, “Dear Survivor, You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days…While I can never fully understand your pain and all you have endured, I want you to know that you are never alone in this fight.”
Despite his message of solidarity, Justin continued to face mounting criticism.
December 21, 2024: Blake Lively’s Lawsuit Becomes Public
In December 2024, actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and orchestrated retaliation during the film’s production. The lawsuit, filed in California, details a series of incidents that Lively claims created a hostile work environment, causing her severe emotional distress.
Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct: Lively’s lawsuit outlines several instances of alleged misconduct by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath:
Unwanted Physical Contact: Lively asserts that Baldoni engaged in improvised kissing scenes without her consent, making her uncomfortable.
Inappropriate Discussions: She alleges that Baldoni frequently discussed his personal sexual experiences and past pornography addiction in her presence, despite her objections.
Exposure to Explicit Material: The lawsuit claims that Heath showed Lively a video of his wife giving birth naked, which she found disturbing and inappropriate.
Invasion of Privacy: Both Baldoni and Heath are accused of entering Lively’s makeup trailer uninvited while she was in various stages of undress, violating her personal space.
In a statement to The New York Times, Blake said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics… and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
The lawsuit also included alleged messages between Justin, his team, and a crisis management firm discussing how to undermine Blake’s credibility.
Retaliation and Smear Campaign
Beyond the on-set behavior, Lively alleges that after she raised concerns and sought a safer work environment, Baldoni and his team initiated a campaign to tarnish her reputation. The lawsuit references internal communications suggesting efforts to manipulate public perception and discredit Lively through social media and planted negative stories. Notably, Baldoni hired crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan, known for her work with Johnny Depp during his defamation trial, to manage the situation.
Response from Justin Baldoni
Baldoni’s legal team has categorically denied the allegations, labeling them as false and defamatory. His lawyer stated that Lively’s claims are an attempt to harm Baldoni’s reputation and are without merit.
Support from Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover, author of the novel on which the film is based, publicly expressed support for Lively. In an Instagram post, Hoover praised Lively’s honesty and kindness, linking to coverage of the lawsuit and commending her integrity and the depth she brought to her character in the film.
Industry Impact
The lawsuit has had immediate professional repercussions for Baldoni. Reports indicate that talent agency WME has dropped him as a client following the allegations.
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Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
