Blake Lively has accused her ex-co-star Justin Baldoni of sexually harassing her while filming “It Ends With Us” — months after rumors of on-set conflict plagued the romantic drama’s release.
The actress, 37, alleges in a complaint obtained by Page Six that there had to be an “all-hands” meeting about the lead actor and director’s bad behavior, in which he was warned to no longer show Lively “nude videos or images of women” and to stop mentioning his past “porn addiction” and sexual conquests. Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was reportedly present for the discussion.
Baldoni, 40, was also told to no longer make any mentions of “cast and crew’s genitalia,” inquire about the “Age of Adeline” star’s “weight” or her “dead father,” as well as a request to not add more sex scenes, oral sex or climaxing on camera “outside the scope” of the pre-approved script, per the complaint.
The former co-stars, however, worked with intimacy coordinators on set, which Baldoni once said was “so important” to have so they could “all feel safe” and also ensure that the scenes were “elevated.”
His and Wayfarer Studios’ attorney, Bryan Freedman, tells Page Six in response to the complaint, which is a precursor to a lawsuit, “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 claims his client previously hired a crisis manager due to “multiple demands and threats” Lively allegedly made, including “threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”
In August, multiple sources told Page Six that Baldoni had allegedly made Lively feel “uncomfortable” while filming the hit movie based on the top-selling Colleen Hoover novel by the same name.
She also reportedly felt the “Jane the Virgin” alum “fat-shamed” her by asking an on-set trainer how much she weighed since he previously suffered a back injury and had to lift her up in one of the scenes.
However, the rumblings of drama between the co-stars only fueled more backlash aimed at Lively.
Past interviews of hers resurfaced online that, for instance, showed her making a snide remark about an interviewer’s stomach “bump” and using a transgender slur.
The “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” star was also criticized for how she handled questions about “It Ends With Us”‘s central theme: domestic violence.
Lively also claims in her complaint that Baldoni was behind much of the negative feedback.
She accuses him of engaging in “social manipulation” to “destroy” her reputation.
The complaint includes a text from Baldoni’s publicist to a studio rep that allegedly stated he “wants to feel like [Lively] can be buried,” to which the other person responded, “You know we can bury anyone.”
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 to be authentic on social media platforms and internet chat forums,” she also claims.
“The Baldoni-Wayfarer team would then feed pieces of this manufactured content to unwitting reporters, making content go viral in order to influence public opinion and thereby cause an organic pile-on.”
Freedman adds that Lively’s complaint is “another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”
He also accuses the “Gossip Girl” alum of using her publicist to plant negative stories about Baldoni, claiming his clients’ reps did not retaliate in response to those reports.
Freedman concludes, “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.”
Lively’s rep declined Page Six’s request for comment.
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.” She also denied her team planted any negative stories about Baldoni or Wayfarer.