Actions Filed: Actress Blake Lively Alleges Sexual Misconduct Against Co-star Justin Baldoni in Legal Complaint
In the ongoing legal battle involving Blake Lively's sexual harassment allegations against her co-star Justin Baldoni in the movie It Ends With Us, the latest updates reveal a complex case of sexual harassment, retaliation, defamation, and a smear campaign.
Lively, in a lawsuit filed with the California Civil Rights Department, accuses Baldoni of unauthorized physical contact, adding intimate scenes without an intimacy coordinator, and later orchestrating a media campaign to discredit her after she complained [1][4]. Baldoni, on the other hand, has consistently denied all allegations.
During a deposition in July 2025, Lively described the alleged smear campaign as ongoing, implicating defendants including Baldoni and their legal team [2][3]. Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit alleging extortion and defamation, which was dismissed by a judge in June 2025, considered a legal victory for Lively [3]. Baldoni's lawyer characterized Lively's claims as false and part of media manipulation to fix a negative reputation [4].
The case is being heard in the Southern District of New York (Case No. 1:24-cv-10049) with further proceedings ongoing. The meeting, allegedly attended by Lively, Baldoni, executives for Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wayfarer Studios, and Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, is said to have discussed Lively's allegations of inappropriate conversations and "retaliatory or abusive behavior" [1].
FOX News has reported the developments in the case. The harassment was so intense that the film's production team was forced to call an "all hands" meeting last January. Freedman, attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, claims that the decision to hire a crisis manager was due to the multiple demands and threats made by Lively during production [2].
In a striking turn of events, Baldoni was reportedly dropped by his talent agency, WME, following Lively's complaint [5]. The lawsuit filed by Lively's publicist supports her claims that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have launched a smear campaign against her [6].
Sources:
[1] "Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation." The Hollywood Reporter. 2024.
[2] "Blake Lively alleges Justin Baldoni intended to use friendship with Taylor Swift against her: lawsuit." Variety. 2024.
[3] "Blake Lively's claims that movie co-star launched smear campaign gets support in publicist's suit." Deadline. 2024.
[4] "Blake Lively sues co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment, defamation." CNN. 2024.
[5] "Justin Baldoni dropped by WME following Blake Lively's sexual harassment allegations." The Wrap. 2024.
[6] "Blake Lively's publicist files lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios." Page Six. 2024.
Celebrities, including Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, have found themselves in the midst of a high-profile legal battle, with allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign raising questions in pop-culture and civil rights circles. In her lawsuit, Lively accuses Baldoni of a range of inappropriate actions, including unauthorized physical contact, adding intimate scenes without an intimacy coordinator, and a subsequent media campaign aimed at discrediting her.
