Blake Lively Sues Director Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment and Reputation Damage

Actress Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated effort to ruin her reputation during the promotional campaign for their film It Ends With Us.

Lively Alleges ‘Severe Emotional Distress’

In the lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone, Lively claims she experienced “severe emotional distress” during her time on the set of the film. She accuses Baldoni and other coworkers of sexual harassment and asserts that a deliberate plan was put in place to damage her public image.

Allegations of Unwanted Sexual Content and ‘Social Manipulation’

The lawsuit further states that Baldoni ignored Lively’s request to remove sexually explicit scenes added to the script beyond what she had originally agreed to. Lively’s legal team claims Baldoni and his team engaged in a “multi-tiered plan” of “social manipulation” to discredit Lively, utilizing “virtually unlimited resources.”

Alleged emails and text messages appear to detail a pre-release strategy aimed at shifting online conversation to criticize Lively.

Baldoni Denies Claims and Calls Lawsuit an Attempt to ‘Fix Reputation’

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told Variety that Lively’s lawsuit is an attempt to “fix her negative reputation,” calling the claims “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”

A representative for WME, Lively’s agency, did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.

Lively Seeks Justice and Protection for Others

In a statement to the New York Times, Lively expressed her hope that her legal action will shed light on such retaliatory tactics and protect others who might face similar situations.

Lively’s lawyers referred to her statement to the New York Times when reached by Rolling Stone.

Interested in learning more about this developing story? Stay tuned to Rolling Stone for the latest updates.