The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us has been marred with controversy even before the film launched last August. While it turned out hugely successful in the box office, racking up over $350 million, the row between its stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni stole most of the spotlight.
During promotions for the project, Blake was accused of being “tone-deaf” whenever she spoke about the movie, which depicts the harrowing realities of domestic violence, in a “lighthearted” manner. Her press appearances, of which she also used to promote her haircare line, were contrasted heavily from that of her co star’s, who appeared to always discuss the story’s themes in a somber and respectful tone.
In the aftermath, Blake’s reputation took a major hit while Justin was recently honored this month at an event that awarded “remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls in the United States and around the world.”
However, the issue between the two doesn’t end there. Last December 20, new information came to light when Blake filed a 10-page complaint against Justin and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, for sexual harassment and “a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.”
Blake Lively Sues Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
The documents revealed that Blake had made multiple complaints on set toward Justin and the movie’s lead producer, Jamey Heath. Among her grievances were acts of violating her physical boundaries and making inappropriate sexual remarks towards her. The studio thereafter relented to her demands of hiring an intimacy coordinator and placing other safety protocols on set. Unbeknown to Blake, however, the two men had moved on to hire a crisis public relations expert that would essentially roll out a smear campaign against the Gossip Girl alum.
In a series of texts and emails unearthed via subpoena, Justin and Jamey spoke to the expert, Melissa Nathan, about wanting to “bury” the actress’s reputation and credibility by using widespread negative media play. This involved planting disparaging articles about Blake's work ethic. They also actively pivoted Justin's talk points in interviews to highlight survivors of domestic violence in response to the criticisim Blake had been receiving for her insensitivity about the topic.
But what were they trying to keep hush from the public?
As part of Blake’s official complaint, she spoke of “the hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film.” Justin and Jamey were accused of subjecting Blake and other employees to nude videos or photos of women. The two also allegedly discussed their past pornography addictions, personal sex lives, and made explicit descriptions of their own genitalia.
In a previously reported incident, the complaint also rehashed an instance of Justin directly going to Blake’s personal trainer to ask about her weight without her knowledge or consent. To make matters worse, Justin also allegedly added “sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by [Lively] outside the scope of the script.”
For a scene where Blake’s character had to give birth, the two men were said to have pressured her to “simulate full nudity” even though there was no mention of nudity in the script or in her contract. During the scene’s actual filming, Blake was “mostly nude with her legs spread wide in stirrups and only a small piece of fabric covering her genitalia.” The set was left open for non-essential members of the crew to pass by, including Wayfarer’s Co-Chairman. Blake was also alarmed at the fact that Justin hired his “best friend” to play the OBGYN, feeling that the choice for such an intimate role “was invasive and humiliating” for her.
After filing the documents, Blake stated “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Meanwhile, Justin’s lawyer has denied the accusations, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.” That said, his talent agency, WME, has officially dropped him from their roster as of December 21, Saturday, following the news.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
