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Blake Lively Accuses It Ends With Us Director Justin Baldoni of Harassment and Smear Campaign

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Blake Lively Accuses It Ends With Us Director Justin Baldoni of Harassment and Smear Campaign

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I find myself deeply troubled by the allegations against Justin Baldoni and the studio behind “It Ends With Us.” It’s disheartening to see such disturbing reports of sexual harassment and retaliation on set, especially when it comes from a talented actress like Blake Lively.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m sharing some news that has caused quite a stir within the industry. In a legal filing, Blake Lively has alleged that during the production of “It Ends With Us,” director and co-star Justin Baldoni subjected her to sexual harassment. Furthermore, she claims that after the incident, he attempted to tarnish her reputation. This is a serious matter that’s currently under investigation, and it underscores the importance of creating safe and respectful work environments in our film industry.

The complaint submitted by The Associated Press, as mentioned in an article published by The New York Times on Friday, paves the way for a legal action. It lists Baldoni, the producers of the romantic drama “It Ends With Us”, and Baldoni’s publicists among the parties being taken to court.

In the lawsuit, Lively alleges that Baldoni and the production company intentionally set out on a complex strategy to tarnish her image after a meeting where she and her husband Ryan Reynolds discussed instances of persistent sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior by Baldoni and a producer on the film.

The plan, the complaint said, included a proposal to plant theories on online message boards, engineer a social media campaign and place news stories critical of Lively.

Baldoni reportedly organized public relations specialists and damage control experts for a “complex, synchronized, and well-funded counterattack” intended to “suppress” or “discredit” Lively should she share her set-related issues, according to the claim.

According to the complaint, the BaldoniWayfarer team took steps to protect Mr. Baldoni from truths revealed by Ms. Lively. They produced, disseminated, and increased content intended to discredit Ms. Lively. Additionally, they employed similar tactics to enhance Mr. Baldoni’s reputation while suppressing any unfavorable information about him.

I’d like to express my concerns about a situation, where it appears that Baldoni deviated unexpectedly from the film’s promotional strategy and leveraged ‘domestic violence survivor content’ to safeguard his public persona.

Bryan Freedman, lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their associates, labeled the assertions as “entirely untrue, excessively scandalous, and deliberately sensational.

Instead of countering Lively’s claims of a prearranged effort, he asserted that the studio had taken an initiative in retaining a crisis manager not because of any organized campaign, but rather as a response to the numerous requests and threats from Ms. Lively throughout the filming process.

Additionally, Freedman mentioned that Lively had warned she wouldn’t show up at the film set or participate in its promotion if her requests weren’t granted.

In the original statement, the specific demands weren’t mentioned, but Lively alleges that following a tense discussion about her claims of a hostile work environment, Baldoni and others acknowledged 30 demands as outlined in her complaint.

“It’s important that explicit content such as nude videos or pictures of females, conversations about adult films, personal sexual experiences, or any mentions of genitalia are prohibited on set for everyone including Lively.

She also said Baldoni should not ask her trainer about her weight without her consent, should not press her about her religious beliefs and should make “no further mention of her dead father.”

A liaison responsible for handling intimate scenes was always present during instances when Lively and Baldoni acted together, and it was strictly forbidden for him to access her dressing room or makeup area when she was not clothed.

Additionally, it was specified that no new kissing scenes or additional sex scenes should be incorporated into the movie beyond those previously agreed upon by Lively during her signing, meaning there would be no more spontaneous kissing scenes.

In a statement shared with the Times, Lively expressed his hope that his legal action would unveil the hidden malicious strategies used to retaliate against those who expose misconduct, and safeguard others who might be subjected to similar targeting. The AP was directed to the Times report where Lively denied any involvement in disseminating or creating damaging information regarding Baldoni or the studio.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but be drawn to “It Ends With Us,” an extraordinary adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 blockbuster novel that hit theaters in August. Despite some buzz surrounding tension behind the scenes between the lead pair, this film managed to rake in a whopping $50 million on its opening weekend, surpassing all expectations at the box office. However, the lead actor, Baldoni, seemed to step back from promoting the movie, while Lively and Reynolds, who were also promoting “Deadpool & Wolverine” around the same time, took center stage in the media circus.

Baldoni, known for his roles in the satirical telenovela Jane the Virgin, directing Five Feet Apart and author of Man Enough, a book challenging traditional views on masculinity, did address concerns that the movie glamorized domestic violence. He told AP at the time that such criticisms were valid as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

He commented, ‘If someone has gone through such an authentic experience, I can only envision how challenging it might seem to picture it as a love story in a book.’ To those who share that experience, I’d simply say that great care and intention went into creating this film.

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2024-12-23 19:06

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