Justin Baldoni, co-star of It Ends With Ushas reportedly been dropped by his talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) following a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed against him by actress Blake Lively. The lawsuit, which accuses Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment and orchestrating efforts to harm Lively’s reputation, has ignited widespread media attention.
WME has not provided an official statement regarding Baldoni’s removal, but sources confirmed the decision to The Hollywood Reporter.
Blake Lively’s Allegations
Blake Lively’s complaint, obtained by Rolling Stoneoutlines allegations of severe misconduct during the production of It Ends With Us. The actress claims Baldoni, alongside producer Jamey Heath, engaged in inappropriate behavior and attempted to tarnish her public image through a campaign of “social manipulation.”
The lawsuit alleges:
- Sexual Harassment: Lively describes an on-set environment where Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments about his personal history, including “pornography addiction” and discussions of cast and crew genitalia.
- Retaliation: Following her initial complaints, Lively claims Baldoni’s team employed a public relations strategy to damage her reputation, including using crisis management experts to influence online discourse against her.
- Escalation of Hostility: Lively details a meeting involving Sony Pictures, during which she and her team presented demands for a safer work environment. These included prohibiting Baldoni from adding explicit scenes or discussing topics outside the approved script.
Baldoni's Response
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, categorically denied the allegations, describing them as “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” In a statement to VarietyFreedman claimed the lawsuit was an attempt by Lively to “fix her negative reputation” and emphasized Baldoni’s intention to fight the claims.
Retaliation Allegations and Documentation
Lively’s lawsuit includes exhibits of alleged emails and text messages suggesting a deliberate effort by Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and public relations teams to undermine her credibility. The documents purportedly detail plans to shift online criticism toward Lively during the film’s promotional campaign.
“What the public also did not know was that this was the beginning of a multi-tiered plan… designed to destroy Ms. Lively’s reputation,” the lawsuit claims.
Lively’s Statement and Broader Implications
Lively issued a public statement to The New York Timesexpressing her hope that her legal action will expose what she describes as “sinister retaliatory tactics” and protect others who may face similar challenges.
“I hope this case encourages others to speak out against misconduct and prevents future targeting of those who dare to stand up,” Lively stated.
Comments are closed.