Numerous individuals familiar with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni worldwide, particularly those who appreciated the recent film "It Ends With Us," are currently astonished by the revelation that the two are now engaged in a serious legal dispute. Lively has initiated a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment during their collaboration on the film. This surprising development follows months of speculation and rumors suggesting that their relationship was not as harmonious as it appeared. In response, Baldoni's attorney has characterized the lawsuit as an effort to rehabilitate Lively's tarnished reputation. The situation has escalated into a legal confrontation, leaving fans of both actors anxiously awaiting further updates. But what precisely transpired? Let us examine the background of this conflict.

Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni Starred When…

Earlier this year, reports emerged indicating that the cast and crew of the highly discussed film "It Ends With Us" were embroiled in a conflict. Various sources confirmed the underlying tension during the production, although no direct statements were made by those involved. The discord between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also serves as the film's director, became evident when they refrained from posing together on the red carpet at the film's premiere in New York in August 2024.

Subsequently, it was suggested that Baldoni's troubling behavior led to a rift with the cast, and his decision to hire a crisis public relations manager signaled a significant dispute. Presently, a lawsuit has been filed against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and inflicting severe emotional distress on Blake Lively. This situation reportedly began on August 14, 2024, when TMZ reported that a scene featuring Blake and Justin was fraught with discomfort, with an insider noting that Baldoni lingered excessively during a kiss on camera.

Additionally, the insider revealed that Blake Lively felt she was subjected to fat-shaming by Justin Baldoni during the filming of a scene in which his character, Ryle, lifts her character, Lily. Baldoni, who is said to have a history of back issues, allegedly inquired with the on-set trainer about Blake's weight, which she interpreted as fat-shaming. Reports indicated that the tension was palpable, with Blake often appearing impatient after completing her scenes and eager to leave the set promptly.

The Post-Production Fiasco

The situation escalated to a stage where post-production transformed into a contentious struggle instead of a seamless endeavor. Various reports indicated that two distinct versions of the film were produced, resulting in significant creative disagreements. The entire team fractured, with many members aligning against Justin Baldoni. Notably, author Colleen Hoover was allegedly supportive of Blake. Furthermore, on Instagram, both Blake and Colleen do not follow Justin, whereas he follows both of them.

The Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Several months following the release and immediately after the digital premiere, many believed that the situation had been resolved quietly by the team. However, this assumption has proven incorrect, as Blake Lively has initiated a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. Reports indicate that discussions regarding Blake's conditions for participating in the film involved the entire team, including her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

According to the lawsuit reported by TMZ, some of the stipulations included prohibitions against displaying nude videos or images of women in Blake's presence, references to Baldoni's purported past "pornography addiction," discussions of sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, mentions of the genitalia of cast and crew, inquiries about Blake's weight, and references to her deceased father.

Additionally, the lawsuit specified that there should be no inclusion of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by Baldoni beyond the parameters of the script that Blake had approved upon joining the project. These conditions were reportedly accepted by Sony, the film's producer, but shortly thereafter, Baldoni allegedly became involved in a "social manipulation" campaign aimed at damaging her reputation.

In response, Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, characterized the lawsuit as an effort to rehabilitate Lively's negative public image. He described the allegations as “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with the intent to cause public harm.” Freedman further asserted that Lively created disruptions on the set of their film, which is now available on Amazon Prime Video, by threatening to not attend filming and refusing to promote the movie, ultimately contributing to its poor performance upon release.

Both the actors are yet to publicly comment on the row themselves. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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