Blake Lively's lawsuit looms over chaotic film production
Blake Lively does not intend to overlook the inappropriate behaviour that Justin Baldoni allegedly committed against her on the set of "It Ends With Us." Details of the sexual harassment lawsuit have been leaked to international media. The film's producer is also implicated in the case.
This year's adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel "It Ends With Us" did not receive critical acclaim. However, poor reviews seem to be the least of the filmmakers' concerns. They may soon face court proceedings related to the sexual harassment case, where the lead actress, Blake Lively, has accused actor and director Justin Baldoni.
The American actress consistently avoided posing with her "colleague" from the set during the promotion of their joint project. It turns out that the collaboration between the stars was fraught with issues even during pre-production. Lively and Baldoni clashed over differing visions on how to portray intimate scenes. Furthermore, the director reportedly made inappropriate comments about Blake's figure following the birth of her fourth child. If the court endorses the events as presented by the actress, these claims will be merely the surface of the scandalous behaviour that Justin allegedly subjected her to.
Was Blake Lively the victim of sexual harassment?
From the case files, it appears that during one of the filming days, Justin Baldoni entered the 37-year-old's trailer while she was not clothed. The lawsuit also includes claims that he showed her photos of nude women, detailing his addiction to pornography.
Blake Lively's clear discomfort was aggravated by Baldoni's insistence on re-shooting scenes involving close interaction between the two main characters. One incident she highlighted involved "discreetly biting and sucking her lower lip." Additionally, the lawsuit stated that Baldoni "improvised physical intimacy" without prior agreement with his film partner.
The 40-year-old allegedly asked the actress about her sex life, including inappropriate questions regarding her and her husband Ryan Reynolds. The lawsuit further highlighted that, shortly before production started, the director insisted on adding unnecessary sexual content or nude scenes involving a minor character in an inappropriate manner. This included portraying Lily Bloom’s loss of virginity, an event not included in Colleen Hoover’s original novel.
Blake Lively also accused the producer of "It Ends With Us"
The lead actress cited the creation of a toxic atmosphere on set and blamed Jamey Heath, the producer.
The lawsuit alleges that Heath coerced Lively into completely undressing for a birth scene, contrary to earlier agreements. While filming, the actress reportedly requested an intimacy coordinator, but her request was denied. Witnesses described the scene as portraying Lively unclothed, with her legs apart in stirrups, and only a small piece of fabric covering her private area.
Heath is also accused of showing the American actress and her assistant a graphic video depicting the birth of his wife, which they both considered to be of a pornographic nature.
Although the filmmakers firmly refute the accusations, Blake Lively underscores her commitment to honesty, stating she would never misrepresent her experiences with colleagues on set. She also expressed hope that legal measures would uncover harmful practices and safeguard others from possible harm.
