Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and orchestrating a public relations campaign to harm her reputation. The complaint, lodged with the California Civil Rights Department as a precursor to a lawsuit, also names Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, other associates, and PR consultants as defendants.

Allegations of Harassment and Misconduct

Lively’s complaint outlines numerous accusations against Baldoni and the film's producer, Jamey Heath. These include barging into her trailer while she was undressed, improvising unplanned intimate scenes, and discussing explicit personal matters. The complaint also alleges Baldoni permitted his friends to observe the filming of Lively’s intimate scenes and admitted to not always obtaining consent in his past sexual encounters.

Specific agreements made during a January meeting between Lively, Baldoni, Heath, and representatives of the film’s distributor were allegedly ignored. These agreements prohibited inappropriate conduct, unwanted touching, and improvising intimate scenes without prior consent.

Claims of Retaliation Campaign

The complaint includes messages obtained via subpoena, allegedly showing Baldoni and PR consultants conspiring to tarnish Lively's reputation. Co-defendant Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group PR LLC purportedly coordinated a retaliatory smear campaign, including astroturfing efforts that seeded fake negative opinions about Lively online.

In a text exchange highlighted in the complaint, Nathan remarked Baldoni “wants to feel like [Ms. Lively] can be buried,” to which she reportedly added, “[Y]ou know we can bury anyone. But I can’t write that to him.”

The complaint further details how Baldoni and his associates manipulated media narratives, allegedly working with Nathan's sister, a journalist, to publish critical stories about Lively. Articles in the New York Post and Daily Mail painted Lively as difficult and self-serving, sparking backlash on social media.

Financial Threats and Resource Allocation

The filing also accuses billionaire co-defendant Steve Sarowitz, Wayfarer Studios' co-chairman, of pledging $100 million to ruin Lively’s life. According to the complaint, this financial backing allowed for an expansive and aggressive PR effort to intimidate Lively and others from exposing on-set misconduct.

“This plan went well beyond standard crisis PR,” the complaint asserts, claiming the campaign sought to silence Lively’s legally protected concerns.

Industry Implications

Lively's legal team, including attorneys from Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, asserts that the alleged actions demonstrate a systematic abuse of power. The case could shed light on systemic issues in the entertainment industry and the use of PR firms to retaliate against those who speak up.

Counsel for Baldoni and the other defendants has not yet issued a statement.

What’s Next?

Lively’s filing with the California Civil Rights Department is the first step toward a potential lawsuit. As the case unfolds, its impact could resonate throughout Hollywood, reinforcing the need for accountability and safeguards against harassment and retaliation.