Hollywood star Blake Lively, who is married to 'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds, has filed an accusation of sexual harassment against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
According to her complaint, the actress has accused Baldoni of trying to orchestrate a smear campaign against her and claims his behavior caused her and her family "severe emotional harm", reports 'Variety'.
The lawyer for Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, Bryan Freedman, fired back at Lively's complaint in a statement.
As per ‘Variety’, he called it “shameful” and full of “categorically false accusations”. The complaint lodged with the California Civil Rights department, states that a meeting was held in January of 2024 to address Lively’s claims and her demands for returning to work on ‘It Ends With Us’ after the actors and writers strikes had ended, allowing production to resume. Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was reportedly in attendance at the meeting.
At that meeting, Lively complained that Baldoni had discussed Lively's weight with her trainer, pressed her to disclose her religious beliefs and talked about his sex life in inappropriate ways. Lively also complained that Jamey Heath, one of the producers of the film and the CEO of Wayfarer Studios, showed Lively a video of his wife naked and giving birth.
She further also accused Baldoni and Heath of entering her makeup trailer without first seeking her permission "including when she was nursing her infant child". "The concerns (Lively) raised were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up", the statement continues.
She also received recognition because of the performance as Serena van der Woodsen in her lead role for the drama teen series 'Gossip Girl'.
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