Blake Lively: what is known about the actress’ accusations against co-star Justin Baldoni

According to the court document, Lively accuses Baldoni and his team of attacking her public image following a meeting to address “recurrent sexual harassment” and other disconcerting behavior from Baldoni and a producer of the film.

The complaint is a step prior to formalizing legal action.

Baldoni’s legal team told the BBC the allegations were “absolutely false” and said they had hired a crisis manager because Lively had threatened to harm the film if her demands were not met.

In the romantic drama, Lively plays a woman who finds herself in a relationship with a charming but abusive boyfriend, played by Baldoni.

The meeting between Lively, Baldoni and other members of the film’s production took place on January 4 of this year, with the aim of addressing “the hostile work environment” on set, as described in the legal document.

Lively’s husband, “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds, who is not involved in “That’s How It Ends,” attended the meeting.

Baldoni participated in the meeting in his role as co-president and co-founder of the company responsible for producing the film, Wayfarer Studios. He also directed the film.

In the complaint, Lively’s lawyers allege that Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath engaged in “inappropriate and unwelcome behavior toward Lively and others on the set of ‘That’s How It Ends.'”

In the document sent to the California Department of Civil Rights, a list of 30 demands related to the two’s alleged misconduct was presented during the meeting, with the aim of allowing production of the film to continue.

Among the demands, Lively requested that Baldoni and Heath stop mentioning their alleged “pornography addictions” to her or other staff members, that they cease descriptions of their genitalia directed at her, and that they not add scenes of sex, oral sex or on-camera climax for BL (Blake Lively) outside the scope of the script approved by her when accepting the project, as stated in the complaint.

Lively also demanded that Baldoni stop claiming he could talk to his late father.

Lively’s legal team also accuses Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of leading a “multi-level plan” to ruin her reputation.

She claims this was “the intended result of a carefully crafted, coordinated and funded retaliatory scheme to silence her and others who spoke out about the hostile environment created by Baldoni and Heath.”

In response to the complaint, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said on Saturday: “It is shameful that Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false allegations against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and their representatives.”

Freedman accused Lively of making numerous demands and threats, including “threatening not to show up on set, threatening not to promote the film”, which would ultimately “lead to its failure during release if her demands were not met”.

He claimed that Lively’s accusations were “intentionally sensationalized, intended to publicly harm and revive a media narrative.”

In a statement via her lawyers to the BBC, Lively said: “I hope my legal action will help uncover these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who report misconduct and protect others who may be targeted.”

She also denied that she and her representatives planted or spread negative information about Baldoni and Wayfarer.

FILM ADDRESS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

The film was a box office success, although some critics said it romanticized domestic violence.

Shortly after its release in August, another co-star, Brandon Sklenar, suggested in an Instagram post rumors of a rift between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Speculation about a possible feud increased when they failed to appear together on the red carpet.

“That’s How It Ends” tells the story of Lily Bloom, a Boston flower girl played by Blake Lively, as she deals with a love triangle between her charming but abusive boyfriend, Ryle Kincaid, played by Justin Baldoni, and her compassionate first love. , Atlas Corrigan, played by Brandon Sklenar.

The film is based on the best-selling book by Colleen Hoover. The 45-year-old author previously revealed that her inspiration came from the domestic violence her mother suffered.

In an interview with the BBC during the film’s premiere in August, Blake Lively said she felt a “responsibility to meet the expectations of the people who care so much about the source material.”

“I really feel like we’ve delivered a story that’s exciting and fun, but also funny, painful, scary, tragic and inspiring. And that’s life: every one of those colors,” said the actress.

Blake Lively, who is also credited as a producer, told the BBC that she believes the film was made “with a lot of empathy.”

“Lily is a survivor and a victim, and while those are big labels, they don’t define who she is,” Lively said. “It defines itself, and I find it deeply empowering that no one else can do that for you.”

This text was originally published here.