Blake Lively has leveled serious allegations against her "It Ends With Us" director and co-star Justin Baldoni, claiming he engaged in sexual harassment and orchestrated a coordinated smear campaign against her.

 According to the New York Times, Lively’s complaint names several other individuals and entities, including Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, Jennifer Abel, RWA Communications, Street Relations Inc., and Jed Wallace.

In a statement to the New York Times, Lively said, “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.”

Support for Blake Lively Grows

Sony Pictures has expressed strong support for Blake Lively following her sexual harassment complaint. 

A spokesperson for Sony stated, “We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today. Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”

Sony’s backing adds weight to the growing chorus of support for Lively.

Several of her friends and former collaborators, including A Simple Favor director Paul Feig and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars, have also spoken out in her favor.

Harassment Allegations Detailed

In her complaint, Lively accuses Baldoni of behavior that caused her and her family “severe emotional harm,” according to Variety. 

Among the allegations, Baldoni is said to have improvised kissing scenes, commented on Lively’s weight to her trainer, and made inappropriate remarks about his sex life.\

Additionally, Jamey Heath, a producer on the film, allegedly showed Lively a video of his wife naked.

The complaint also claims Baldoni and Heath entered Lively’s makeup trailer without permission, including while she was breastfeeding her infant child. 

Lively asserts these incidents were part of a broader pattern of misconduct that affected not just her, but other female cast and crew members who had also spoken up.

Lively reportedly demanded that Baldoni not add any sex scenes beyond those initially approved in the film’s script. Sony Pictures confirmed that they supported her requests.

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Coordinated Smear Campaign

The complaint further alleges that Baldoni orchestrated a campaign to “destroy” Lively’s reputation after she raised concerns about his conduct.

The filing includes excerpts from thousands of pages of text messages and emails obtained via subpoena, detailing plans by Baldoni and his PR team to push back against Lively if her accusations became public.

“Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation for Ms. Lively exercising her legally protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set, with the additional objective of intimidating her and anyone else from revealing in public what actually occurred,” the complaint states.

Messages included in the complaint reveal members of Baldoni’s PR team celebrating social media posts that appeared to support the filmmaker over Lively.

In one exchange, a publicist remarked about Baldoni’s “luck” and emphasized the need to capitalize on it.

The alleged smear campaign also involved subcontractors who “weaponized a digital army” to create and promote content that appeared authentic on social media and internet forums, the complaint claims.

Success of "It Ends With Us"

Despite the controversy, "It Ends With Us" became a box office hit, earning $350 million worldwide.

Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, the film has drawn significant attention for its storyline, which focuses on sensitive topics like domestic abuse. Hoover also penned a sequel, "It Starts With Us."

This case underscores the challenges individuals face when speaking out against misconduct in the entertainment industry.

 By taking legal action, Lively aims to expose what she describes as a retaliatory system designed to silence whistleblowers and discourage accountability.

 As this case unfolds, it has the potential to spark broader conversations about workplace conduct and the mechanisms used to protect or vilify those who come forward.