Blake Lively accuses It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of smear campaign

Blake Lively has taken legal action against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, claiming that he engaged in sexual harassment and waged a campaign to tarnish her reputation.

In the legal documents, she claims that Mr. Baldoni and his team harmed her reputation after a meeting where she was accompanied by her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. During that meeting, she spoke out about ongoing sexual harassment and other troubling conduct from Mr. Baldoni and a movie producer.

Mr. Baldoni's lawyers informed the BBC that the claims are entirely untrue and mentioned that they brought in a crisis manager because Ms. Lively allegedly threatened to disrupt the film unless her requests were fulfilled.

In the romantic drama, Ms. Lively portrays a woman who becomes involved with a charismatic yet abusive partner, depicted by Mr. Baldoni.

On January 4th of this year, Ms. Lively met with Mr. Baldoni and other members of the film's production team to discuss the "unpleasant work atmosphere" on set, as stated in the legal documents.

Ms. Lively's husband, Mr. Reynolds, known for his role in Deadpool and who did not feature in It Ends With Us, was present with her at the confrontation, as stated in the legal complaint that precedes a potential lawsuit.

Mr. Baldoni, 40, participated in the meeting as the co-chairman and co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, the company behind the film. Additionally, he served as the film's director.

In the lawsuit, Ms. Lively's attorneys claim that both Mr. Baldoni and Jamey Heath, the CEO of Wayfarer, participated in "unacceptable and unwanted conduct directed at Ms. Lively and others while filming It Ends With Us."

In a submission to the California Civil Rights Department, a list of 30 requests concerning the duo's supposed misbehavior was presented during the meeting, aimed at allowing them to keep working on the film.

Ms. Lively, 37, asked that there be no further reference to Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath's past issues with "pornography addiction," either to her or to other members of the crew. She also requested that there be no more discussions about their own private parts with her and that there should be "no more inclusion of sexual scenes, oral sex, or any on-screen climaxes involving BL [Blake Lively] that go beyond the script she approved when she agreed to join the project," according to the complaint.

Ms. Lively also insisted that Mr. Baldoni refrain from claiming he could communicate with her late father.

Ms. Lively's lawyers also claim that Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have orchestrated a "complex scheme" to damage her reputation.

She claims that this was the outcome of a well-planned and organized campaign designed to punish her and prevent others from voicing their concerns about the toxic atmosphere fostered by Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath.

In response to the legal allegations, Mr. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated on Saturday: "It is disgraceful that Ms. Lively and her team would level such serious and completely untrue claims against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its representatives."

Mr. Freedman alleged that Ms. Lively imposed many demands and issued threats, such as "saying she might not come to the set or not promote the film," which could ultimately result in the film's failure at release if her requests were not fulfilled.

He claimed that Ms. Lively's statements were deliberately provocative and aimed at causing public harm while resurrecting a storyline in the media.

In a message to the BBC through her lawyers, Ms. Lively expressed, "I want my legal efforts to reveal these troubling retaliatory methods used against those who expose wrongdoing and to safeguard others who might be at risk."

She also refuted claims that she or anyone acting on her behalf had disseminated or circulated unfavorable information regarding Mr. Baldoni or Wayfarer.

The movie was very successful at the box office, even though some reviewers claimed it glorified domestic abuse.

Shortly after the film's release in August, fellow actor Brandon Sklenar teased on Instagram about rumors suggesting a conflict between Ms. Lively and Mr. Baldoni.

Rumors of a rift intensified when they failed to show up together at the red carpet event.

It Ends With Us follows the journey of Lily Bloom, a florist in Boston portrayed by Ms. Lively. Throughout the story, she finds herself caught in a love triangle involving Ryle Kincaid, her attractive yet abusive boyfriend played by Mr. Baldoni, and Atlas Corrigan, her caring first love brought to life by Mr. Sklenar.

This story is adapted from a popular novel written by Colleen Hoover. The 45-year-old author has mentioned that her mother's experience with domestic violence served as a key source of inspiration for her work.

During an interview with the BBC at the film's premiere in August, Ms. Lively expressed that she felt a strong obligation to honor the fans who are passionate about the original material.

"I truly believe we've created a narrative that captures a wide range of emotions—it's full of joy and humor, but also contains elements of pain, fear, and tragedy. Ultimately, it's inspiring, and that's what life is all about; it encompasses every possible feeling," the actress explained.

Ms. Lively, who is also recognized as a producer, shared with the BBC that she believed the film was created "with a great deal of understanding and compassion."

"Lily has gone through a lot and has faced difficult experiences, but those labels don't fully capture who she is," Ms. Lively explained. "She takes charge of her own identity, which I believe is incredibly empowering because it shows that nobody else has the right to define you."