What we know about Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni over his alleged ‘smear’ campaign
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Rumors of a rift between Baldoni and the cast of It Ends with Us began in August after the movie’s release. Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment during filming as well as organizing a “smear campaign” against her in the months that followed.
![[Baldoni appeared at multiple press events for the film alone, after Lively and other cast members reportedly refused to make appearances with him]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/21/16/Film-Blake_Lively-Justin_Baldoni_88760.jpg)
The 37-year-old Gossip Girl actor stars as Lily Bloom in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, which centers around a flower shop owner’s abusive relationship with her partner, Ryle Kincaid, played by Baldoni. The complaint, which was filed with the California Civil Rights Department and is the precursor to a lawsuit, is the culmination of months of speculation from fans and the media, after rumors of a rift between Baldoni, who also directed the movie, and the rest of the cast overshadowed its promotion.
![[Lively said that her experience on set and the subsequent campaign against her caused ‘severe emotional distress’]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/21/23/ESP-CIN_LIVELY-BALDONI-ACUSACI%C3%93N_84917.jpg)
The legal filing. Lively filed a legal complaint on Friday in which she claimed that a meeting took place in early January to address the “hostile work environment that had almost derailed the film.” She accused Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior,” including unwanted improvised kissing from Baldoni.
![[Baldoni reportedly told associates that he wanted to ‘bury’ Lively after she voiced concerns of a ‘hostile work environment’ on set]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/05/15/GettyImages-2165621571.jpg)
According to the complaint, the actor had a number of requirements in order for her to continue work on the film, including:. — No more showing nude videos or images of women, including producer’s wife, to Lively and/or her employees. — No more mention of Baldoni or Heath’s previous “pornography addiction”.
![[Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends with Us, also did not appear with Baldoni at events to promote the movie]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/08/31/12/author%20Colleen%20Hoover%20Indycomp.jpg)
