Blake Lively Accuses Director Justin Baldoni of Sexual Harassment and Smear Campaign

Actress Blake Lively has made disturbing allegations against her co-star and director of the movie "It Ends with Us," Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and a coordinated smear campaign to damage her reputation. The claims were made in a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department, which alleges a pattern of misconduct and retaliation during the film's production.

According to the complaint, Lively experienced repeated incidents of harassment and disturbing behavior by Baldoni and a producer during filming, which she reported. Instead of addressing her concerns, the studio and Baldoni allegedly concocted a "multi-tiered plan" to harm Lively's reputation, spreading negative information about her. Lively denies any involvement in spreading negative statements about Baldoni or the studio, rejecting the allegations.

Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has responded with a different narrative, stating that the studio had a crisis manager on board due to Lively's demands and threats during production. Freedman claimed that Lively had made "demands" to ensure her participation on set and to promote the film. However, these claims have not been substantiated and contradict Lively's denial of spreading negative information.

Lively's allegations also include claims that Baldoni used domestic violence "survivor content" to bolster his public image, after abandoning the movie's original marketing plan. The studio has denied these claims, labeling them "completely false" and "intentionally salacious," with the intention of hurting Lively and resurfacing a media narrative. The SAG-AFTRA union, which represents TV and movie actors, has issued a statement supporting Lively's allegations, emphasizing that retaliation for reporting misconduct is "illegal and wrong."

The controversy surrounding the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, "It Ends with Us," has turned into a high-profile scandal, with celebrities like Colleen Hoover and Amber Heard publicly supporting Lively. The label on social media platforms has shifted against Baldoni, with many users condemning his actions and questioning the behavior on set. The situation highlights the need for accountability and support for survivors of harassment and abuse in the entertainment industry.