On Friday, 20 December, Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, accusing him of engaging in inappropriate behaviour on set and initiating a smear campaign to damage her reputation. The actress claims Baldoni made unconsented physical contact and made invasive comments about her personal life. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and his PR team orchestrated a campaign to plant negative stories about Lively.
The actress has received significant support following the filing, including from It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, director Paul Feig, comedian Amy Schumer, and several of her friends and co-stars, such as America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel. The wave of support has now extended internationally, with Bollywood actress and MP Kangana Ranaut voicing her concerns over the matter.
Taking to Instagram, Ranaut described the allegations as “worrying” and “shameful.” She drew comparisons between Hollywood and Bollywood, referencing the Hema Committee report, which highlighted the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Ranaut pointed out that in both industries, women who refuse to compromise are often subjected to character assassination, with their careers negatively impacted.
The lawsuit further details the emotional distress Lively allegedly suffered on set, including an incident where Baldoni became upset after seeing paparazzi photos of Lively in character, leading her to retreat to her dressing room in tears over social media comments about her appearance. The filing claims Baldoni frequently criticised Lively’s age and weight, belittling her in front of others. As tensions escalated, an emergency meeting involving Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, and executives from Sony Pictures Entertainment and Wayfarer Studios was reportedly held to address the issues threatening the film’s production.
Justin Baldoni’s team has denied the allegations, labelling them as false and a desperate attempt by Lively to restore her reputation. They argue that the accusations stem from Lively’s own remarks and actions during the film’s promotional campaign, which reportedly led to negative public perception.
As the lawsuit unfolds, many are watching closely to see how it will affect both Lively and Baldoni’s careers, as well as the ongoing production of It Ends With Us.