Actor Blake Lively has accused former Seraph of the End co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment in California, alleging an organized PR campaign to damage her reputation. filed a lawsuit.
According to Lively’s complaint, things got so bad during the production of the film, which was released in August of this year, that a meeting was held to address her claims of a hostile work environment and that she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. He also attended.
As part of the tense meeting, Lively and Reynolds agreed to “no longer show Lively nude videos or images of women, no further mention of Baldoni’s past ‘porn addiction'” allegations, and “Not to discuss sexual conquests in front of them.” ”.
Additionally, Baldoni stipulated that “there should be no inquiries regarding Ms. Lively’s weight” and that there should be “no further mention of her late father.”
The suit also says that during filming, Lively requested that she not be asked to do any more sex scenes beyond what she had approved when she joined the controversial project.
Although the request was accepted and approved by the studio, Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios subsequently engaged in a campaign of “social manipulation” to “destroy” her reputation.
The plan included proposals to plant theories on online message boards, organize social media campaigns and publish news articles critical of Lively, according to the complaint. The complaint also says Baldoni “abruptly pivoted” from his film’s marketing plans and “used domestic violence ‘survivor content’ to protect his public image.”
The complaint, reported by the New York Times and filed Friday with the California Department of Civil Rights, is a precursor to a lawsuit. It includes a document purportedly written by Baldoni’s publicist to the studio’s publicist, in which Baldoni says, “I’d like to think I can bury (Ms. Lively),” and “I don’t want to destroy her.” I can’t write,” he said.
Lively, who rose to fame on the teen drama series Gossip Girl before breaking into film, said in a statement to the Times: “My legal action is the beginning of a vicious retaliatory tactic that harms those who spoke out. I hope it will help with the draw.” By being proactive about fraud, you can help protect others who may be targeted. ”
Baldoni slammed Lively’s claims in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “It is shameful that Mr. Lively and her representatives would make such grave and categorically false accusations,” said Baldoni’s attorney, Brian Friedman.
The statement called Lively’s actions “another desperate attempt to ‘correct’ the negative publicity she received from her own words and actions during the film’s campaign.” Interviews and reporting activities were publicly observed in real time and unedited, allowing the internet to generate unique views and opinions. ”
Friedman said Lively made “multiple demands and threats” including “threatening not to show up on set, threatening not to promote the film, and ultimately forcing it to be canceled during its release.” stated that the client had previously hired a crisis manager. Her request was not met. ”
The promotional campaign for “It Ends with Us,” based on Colleen Huber’s romance novel that features depictions of domestic violence, began in August after social media sleuths noticed Baldoni’s absence from a promotional event. It got off to a rocky start.
Production sources told The Hollywood Reporter that a rift between the filmmakers caused Lively to take over creative control of the film after two cuts of the film were made. There is widespread speculation that Reynolds may have been brought in.
Shortly after, Lively’s awkward 2016 interview resurfaced online. Hollywood journalist Gelsti Flair said the incident was the “most disgusting situation” she had “ever been in” and said Lively made her want to quit her job.
Mr. Baldoni starred in the TV novel “Jane the Virgin,” directed “5 Feet Apart,” and wrote “Man Enough,” a book that rebelled against traditional notions of masculinity. He refuted claims that the film glorified domestic violence.
“If anyone has had an experience like that in real life, you can imagine how difficult it is to imagine that experience being recreated in a romance novel,” he said. “I just want to say to them that we were very intentional in making this film.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
