Thu Dec 26 12:13:31 UTC 2024: ## Hollywood Actress Blake Lively Sues Director Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment and Smear Campaign
**Los Angeles, CA** – Actress Blake Lively has filed an 80-page lawsuit against director Justin Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios, and CEO Jamey Heath, alleging sexual harassment, a smear campaign, and astroturfing following the production of their film, *It Ends With Us*. The lawsuit, which has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, details a pattern of disturbing behavior on set and a subsequent attempt to discredit Lively.
The complaint alleges numerous instances of misconduct, including Baldoni making inappropriate comments about Lively’s weight, lingering on her lips after filming ended, adding sex scenes without her consent, and walking into her trailer while she was breastfeeding. The lawsuit further claims that Baldoni and Heath made lewd comments, showed Lively nude images of other women, and discussed pornography and Baldoni’s past addiction. Baldoni also allegedly claimed to be able to communicate with Lively’s deceased father.
Despite Lively’s complaints about the unprofessional conduct, the studio initially agreed to hire an intimacy coordinator. However, the lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and Heath subsequently launched a smear campaign orchestrated by crisis management agency TAG, whose clients have included Drake, Travis Scott, and Johnny Depp.
The campaign involved spreading negative narratives about Lively online, including false claims that she was responsible for production members losing their jobs, used her husband Ryan Reynolds to manipulate power dynamics, had a negative reputation in the industry, and was attempting to bully her way into acquiring the rights to the sequel, *It Starts With Us*. Emails included in the lawsuit reveal TAG’s confidence in their ability to bury Lively, with one employee admitting that many of the positive social media posts supporting Baldoni were disingenuous.
The lawsuit also points to inconsistencies in the film’s promotional tour, with Baldoni notably absent from many appearances, and the tone-deaf marketing campaign that focused on “pep talks” for survivors of domestic violence while simultaneously overlooking the alleged abuse on set. Lively’s team reportedly requested that the media refrain from asking questions about Baldoni.
The lawsuit marks a significant development in the ongoing conversation surrounding power dynamics and sexual harassment in Hollywood. The case is expected to be closely followed as it unfolds.
First Piper 