Blake Lively supported by It Ends With Us author as Baldoni’s ‘texts’ come to light
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US actress Blake Lively received backing from Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, following her allegations of sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni in a legal filing.
Hoover's endorsement of Lively follows the release of purported text messages by The New York Times, which indicate that Baldoni may have planned a smear campaign. As a result, Baldoni has been let go by his agency, WME.
The legal filing mentions that a meeting took place where Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, and their attorneys gathered to discuss the concerns raised by Lively regarding her experiences on the set of It Ends With Us.
Lively set several conditions before agreeing to work on the film. These included a ban on displaying nude videos or images of women to Blake, avoiding any references to Baldoni's supposed past issues with pornography, and refraining from discussing sexual achievements in front of Blake and other individuals.
The legal action also outlined: "There should be no more references to the cast and crew’s private parts, no additional questions regarding Blake’s weight, and no further discussions about Blake’s deceased father."
Baldoni, 40, who also took the helm as director of the film, and the studio responsible for the romantic drama are facing allegations of launching a “multi-level strategy” aimed at tarnishing Lively’s image. This comes after a meeting was held to discuss claims against Baldoni and a producer connected to the film regarding “ongoing sexual harassment and other troubling conduct,” as outlined in the legal papers released by The New York Times.
In the damage claim filed before the lawsuit, Baldoni, along with his public relations team and Wayfarer Studios, are named as defendants.
In "It Ends With Us," inspired by Hoover's novel of the same title, Lily (played by Lively) starts a romantic relationship with Ryle Kincaid (portrayed by Baldoni), only to later cross paths again with her first love (played by Brandon Sklenar), all while dealing with the harsh realities of domestic violence in her life.
In an update on her Instagram stories, Hoover expressed: “@blakelively, you've always been genuine, caring, helpful, and understanding from the very first day we met.”
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"Thank you for being your true self. Stay the same and don't let anything dim your light."
She subsequently provided a link to a New York Times article called “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine.”
The article outlines the allegations against Baldoni, stating that he hired a crisis communications expert. Along with the director and with the studio's consent, they developed a "well-organized, strategic, and financially backed plan for retaliation." This plan involved creating "artificial content" designed to shape public perception.
“I believe that my lawsuit will shed light on these cruel tactics used to intimidate individuals who report wrongdoing, and I hope it offers protection to others who might be at risk,” Lively expressed in a statement to the newspaper.
Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives, stated to a US media outlet that the allegations were "totally untrue, absurd, and deliberately sensational."
Speculation about a strained relationship between Lively and Baldoni started circulating shortly after the film was released in early August.
Baldoni is recognized for portraying Rafael Solano in the telenovela Jane The Virgin. He also authored a book titled Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, in which he challenges conventional views on masculinity.
Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, who stars in Deadpool and co-owns the Wrexham AFC football team, have four children together.
She has appeared in movies such as The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, The Age Of Adaline, and A Simple Favor, and is known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen in the popular teen drama series Gossip Girl.
The Independent has reached out to Justin Baldoni's team for a response.
Further contributions by PA.
