Story behind Blake Lively’s bombshell bullying claims: The extraordinary accusations including sex scenes, fat shaming, talking to the dead, the 30 ‘rules’ laid down to save troubled film… and how accused co-star is fighting back, revealed by FRED KELLY

As a seasoned moviegoer and observer of Hollywood’s often tumultuous backstage shenanigans, I must say that the story behind “It Ends With Us” is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The drama surrounding Blake Lively and her co-star Danielle Campbell, as well as director Román J. Israel, Jr., has been as captivating as any film they’ve made.

During a recent interview, actor-director Justin Baldoni conveyed a serious tone.

In a conversation with reporters, the 40-year-old gentleman, dressed in a brown cardigan and accessorized with a chain necklace, firmly stated that there’s simply no justification for causing harm, whether it’s physical or emotional, to women. He emphasized that men should strive to improve themselves, aiming to become better supporters and allies.

His remark stemmed from his most recent movie, “It Ends With Us” – a popular drama revolving around an abusive relationship – that has recently been included in Netflix’s library.

His words have become quite awkward for him since his conversation with Access Hollywood, barely two weeks ago. Since then, he’s been beset by allegations of inappropriate behavior towards his co-star, Blake Lively, including charges of sexual harassment and bullying.

The movie, adapted from the 2016 top-selling book by Colleen Hoover, narrates the story of Lily Bloom, a character portrayed by Lively as a florist, and her romantic entanglement with a captivating yet abusive neurosurgeon, played by Baldoni who also directed.

The movie that came out in August was a massive success at the box office, earning over $350 million while only costing $25 million to produce.

Regardless of its box office triumph, the off-screen turmoil has often overshadowed the movie due to reports of on-set disputes and criticism of an insensitive marketing campaign.

Over the weekend, the issue resurfaced prominently once more, spurred by sensational news articles revealing that Blake Lively, known for her role in the TV series Gossip Girl, had submitted an extensive 80-page lawsuit against Baldoni.

In the document, which was viewed by The Mail, she claimed that Baldoni had repeatedly engaged in sexual misconduct and orchestrated a plan to tarnish her public image.

It’s even more surprising because Baldoni, who has refuted the claims against him, has historically been a strong advocate for women.

Beyond delivering speeches about ‘toxic masculinity’, I am a devoted adherent of Baha’i faith – a religion that emphasizes unity, promotes peace, and advocates for gender equality.

How, surprisingly, did a movie that aimed to shed light on domestic abuse featuring two popular and seemingly spotless Hollywood actors turn out to be the most scandalous event in Tinseltown this year?

In early January of this year, just prior to the resumption of filming after the industry disputes in 2023, I found myself called for a gathering – an ‘all hands’ meeting, as it were. This assembly was prompted by my personal initiative, spurred by a sense of duty and concern, following my assertion that the set environment had become hostile. As my legal complaint articulates, this was not just a casual observation but a tangible reality I felt compelled to address.

At the meeting, Lively wasn’t there on her own; instead, she invited her famous husband, Ryan Reynolds, who is known for his influence in Hollywood. Moreover, Jamey Heath, Baldoni’s business partner and the film’s producer, was present, along with a representative from Sony Pictures, who serves as the film’s distributor.

At the end of the meeting, they drafted, approved, and enforced a set of 30 unique guidelines for the rest of the production, which were said to be in response to incidents that occurred during filming.

This involves allegations that Baldoni:

However, this was merely a small part of what was to come. The new guidelines for filming also specified that Lively would be substituted by a ‘top-tier stunt performer’ for sequences featuring ‘sexual assault or violent scenes’, in the company of Baldoni.

Additionally, it was emphasized that Baldoni should refrain from including any additional ‘scenes of a sexual nature, oral sex, or explicit climaxes’ beyond what was initially outlined in the script. It was also suggested that an intimacy coordinator be present during filming whenever the two main actors were involved in a scene together.

Instead of focusing solely on inappropriate behavior, the guidelines also addressed other concerns. For instance, Baldoni was instructed to cease implying he communicated with Lively’s deceased father, and to avoid making comments about her weight, which she considered similar to body shaming.

Through his company Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni responded formally to the demands by stating: ‘Though our views diverge in various areas, maintaining a safe environment for everyone is crucial regardless of disagreements. As for your suggested points, we consider many of them not only appropriate but also vital for the well-being of all parties concerned.’

Filming duly restarted on January 5 and concluded just over a month later on February 9.

It seems that the last month of filming went well, as Lively shared with her confidants and coworkers that Baldoni’s behavior noticeably improved.

Once the movie was completed, problems resurfaced. Lively obtained the film’s footage and recruited an editor who had recently worked on her husband’s successful superhero films Deadpool and Wolverine. This editor was tasked with creating an independent version of the movie separate from Baldoni.

The Mail understands this was only possible as Lively had the support of the distributor, Sony.

One film industry insider told the Mail: ‘Sony strong-armed Baldoni into accepting Blake’s cut of the film. They sat him down and said, “It’s her version or no version”. ’

Before the movie’s release on August 6, both star camps grew increasingly wary, with no direct communication between the actors. Later, Lively and several of her co-actors, along with the book’s author Hoover, declared they wouldn’t participate in press events with Baldoni. This decision threatened the movie’s commercial success.

At this stage, whispers about the situation had started circulating online following several cast members unfollowing Baldoni on Instagram and Reynolds taking steps to block him.

Currently, Lively claims that during this period, Baldoni embarked on a harmful strategy of ‘influencing social perceptions’ with the intention of tarnishing her image and standing.

It’s stated that Lively asserts that on July 31, about a week prior to the premiere, Baldoni enlisted the services of a crisis communications expert named Melissa Nathan. Notably, this same professional had earlier assisted in restoring the tarnished reputation of actor Johnny Depp and also worked with the somewhat contentious rappers Drake and Travis Scott in the past.

It is said that Ms. Nathan reportedly created and amplified unfavorable articles about Ms. Lively on the internet, all while safeguarding the image of Baldoni. Additionally, Lively’s legal team alleges that Ms. Nathan, via her company The Agency Group PR, employed a strategy called ‘astroturfing’. This involves posting comments online to give the impression they are from the public, when in reality, the organization is responsible for them.

Essentially, Lively’s lawyers argue that Baldoni attempted to retaliate against her harassment allegations by damaging her reputation, negatively impacting her businesses, and inflicting severe emotional distress on her and her family.

In the texts reviewed, Ms. Nathan told someone from Baldoni’s group: ‘We can make anyone disappear.’

Furthermore, the court case filing by Lively additionally asserts that the team of Ms. Nathan prepared a document titled ‘Scenario Planning’, which outlined strategies that Baldoni might use if Lively decided to disclose any of her accusations publicly.

They allegedly planned to spread tales implying that Lively was exploiting feminism as a weapon and also hinting at involving her friend, pop star Taylor Swift, who had previously been accused of employing feminism as a means of bullying.

Crucially, the negative strategy supposedly employed by Baldoni appears to have worked.

The study, carried out by Terakeet at the behest of Lively, suggests that the actress was possibly subjected to a coordinated, cross-platform digital assault.

Furthermore, it was observed that this incident bore resemblance to the internet harassment experienced by Amber Heard during her trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, whom she had alleged to be abusive. Despite this, Depp emerged victorious in court, while Heard’s standing was significantly damaged.

Despite Baldoni’s strategies, it was Lively’s perspective during the press tour that consistently grabbed attention in the news. It is said that the actress aimed to market the film as a light-hearted romantic comedy, instead of a depiction of domestic abuse.

for many fans, she took this too far – refusing to discuss the serious topic at all.

During a Q&A session involving Jenny Slate, Isabela Ferrer, and author Colleen Hoover, alongside her, Blake Lively steered clear of discussing domestic violence. Instead, they shared laughter while chatting about their ideal careers and even delved into their astrological signs.

In a recent post on platform X, I expressed my dismay by stating, ‘I find this incredibly insensitive. The film in question tackles the serious issue of domestic violence, yet it’s being marketed as if it were a Barbie movie.’

In another toe-curling incident, Lively posted a cheery video to TikTok telling girls to ‘Grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see [the film]’.

After a 2016 interview clip was made public, doubts about her character intensified as a then-pregnant Lively responded to a journalist’s remark about her ‘small baby bump’ with a witty, sarcastic comment, saying “You’re congratulated on your little bump.

During the summer, Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa shared that she found the interview challenging due to her personal struggles with infertility, which left her contemplating a departure from journalism.

Yet, the issues didn’t end with that. It was additionally alleged that during the promotion tour of the movie, Lively used the opportunity to advertise her personal businesses and brands as well.

It was fortunate that the movie premiere aligned with the debut of her haircare brand, Blake Brown. This new venture showcased products like ‘wild nectar’ shampoo priced at £15 per bottle.

Initially, Lively’s team attributed the conflicting schedules to the movie’s late premiere; it seemed that “It Ends With Us” was originally scheduled for a release on Valentine’s Day, approximately half a year prior.

Additionally, it’s been shared that an email promoting ‘It Ends With Us’ themed cocktails was distributed. This email detailed how to create these beverages using Blake’s drink company, Betty Buzz. Some of these recipes were allegedly designed with Aviation Gin, a spirits brand owned by her husband.

It’s not shocking that numerous critics condemned Lively for leveraging the movie’s launch as a means to boost her personal brand, with such intense disapproval that it became known as the ‘Lively Backlash’.

The film’s success in the box office remained unwavered amidst the uproar, but its reviews from critics were generally mild at best. In fact, Brian Viner from The Mail found it to be more cheesy than a Camembert wheel and shallow as a child’s paddling pool.

Time has passed since the publication of It Ends With Us, and many believed the unpleasant incident was resolved. However, this is not true. In fact, only recently, Blake Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, outlining numerous accusations against someone.

Lawyer Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, called the document ‘intensely scandalous with the purpose of causing harm and perpetuating a sensationalized story in the media.’ He further stated that it was regrettable for Amber Lively and her team to make such severe and undeniably false allegations against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives.

Indeed, I’d like to clarify a point from earlier conversations. In response to claims made by Ms. Lively, Mr. Freedman countered with allegations of his own. He suggested that she had threatened not to attend set during filming and refused to promote the project unless certain requirements were fulfilled.

Through her lawyer’s declaration, Lively expressed her hope that her lawsuit will unveil the hidden, retaliatory strategies aimed at harming individuals who speak out against wrongdoings, thereby safeguarding others who might face similar situations.

Whether It Ends With Us will become a Christmas success for Netflix is impossible to know.

However, there’s no denying that the actual intrigue surrounding this unexceptional movie resided off-screen, where the genuine drama unfolded.

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2024-12-23 05:07