Blake Lively has made allegations that her former co-star Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her when they were filming "It Ends With Us." This accusation comes many months after reports of on-set turmoil hampered the release of the romantic movie.
In a complaint that was obtained by Page Six, the actress, who is 37 years old, claims that there was a need for an "all-hands" meeting to discuss the negative behavior of the lead actor and director. During this meeting, he was warned to refrain from showing Lively "nude videos or images of women" and to stop mentioning his previous "porn addiction" and sexual conquests. It has been stated that Ryan Reynolds, who is married to Lively, was there throughout the conversation.
According to the complaint, Baldoni, who is forty years old, was also instructed to refrain from making any further references to "cast and crew's genitalia," to inquire about the "weight" of the "Age of Adeline" star or her "dead father," and to refrain from adding any additional climaxing on camera scenes, oral sex scenes, or climaxing scenes that were "outside the scope" of the pre-approved script.
However, prior co-stars worked with intimacy coordinators. According to Baldoni, these coordinators were "so important" to making them "all feel safe" and "elevated."
Bryan Freedman, who represents him and Wayfarer Studios, told Page Six, "It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations."
"These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media," Freedman said.
According to Freedman, his client has utilized the services of a crisis manager in the past because of "multiple demands and threats," reportedly made, including "threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met." Lively may have made these threats in order to get her demands met.
In August, multiple sources told Page Six that Baldoni made Lively "uncomfortable" while producing the hit film based on Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel of the same name.
She also thought the former "Jane the Virgin" actress "fat-shamed" her by asking an on-set trainer her weight. He had a back injury and had to lift her in one scenario.
Lively was criticized further due to co-star speculations of conflict.
Her interviews have been rediscovered online. She made a nasty joke about an interviewer's "bump" on the stomach and used a transgender slur.
The "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" actress was also criticized for her responses to questions on domestic abuse, "It Ends With Us"'s main topic.
He is engaging in "social manipulation" to "destroying" her reputation, she claims.
Baldoni's publicist reportedly texted a studio executive that he "wants to feel like Lively can be buried." The SMS recipient replied, "You know we can bury anyone."
She also says that they "retained subcontractors, including a Texas-based contractor named Jed Wallace, who weaponized a digital army around the country from New York to Los Angeles to create, seed, and promote content that appeared authentic on social media platforms and internet chat forums."
After then, the Baldoni-Wayfarer duo would provide uninformed reporters with portions of this material. The content might go viral to impact public opinion and produce an organic pile-on.
Freedman calls Lively's complaint "another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation" from her remarks and actions during the film campaign, as well as interviews and press activities that were publicly, in real time, and unedited, allowing the internet to form its own opinions.
He also accuses the "Gossip Girl" alum of employing her publicist to create unfavorable stories about Baldoni, saying his clients did not respond.
Freedman wrote, "There were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals."
However, the actress told the New York Times, "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted." Her crew did not manufacture unfavorable reports about Baldoni or Wayfarer, she said.
Business Times has reached out to Blake Lively for comments.
