On December 31, 2024, actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Wayfarer Studios LLC, Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, and several others in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint alleges workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and a calculated campaign of retaliation against Lively following her efforts to address a hostile work environment on the set of ''it Ends With Us"
The lawsuit details how Lively, cast as the lead character in It Ends With Us, faced inappropriate and unwelcome behavior from Baldoni and Heath. As both the director and a co-star, Baldoni allegedly engaged in intrusive physical interactions during filming, including improvising intimate scenes without consent. Lively recounts an instance where Baldoni bit and sucked on her lower lip during a scene, violating established industry protocols for intimate performances.
Additionally, Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments about Lively’s body and weight, including pressuring her to lose weight after the birth of her fourth child.
The complaint also highlights an incident where Baldoni allegedly forced an underage actress portraying a younger version of Lively’s character to act in an explicit scene depicting the loss of virginity—content that was neither in the original script nor necessary for the film. The director reportedly made comments about the scene being “hot” and inquired if the young actors had rehearsed it beforehand.
Furthermore, Jamey Heath is accused of showing Lively a video of his fully nude wife giving birth, an act she described as deeply unsettling and inappropriate. He also allegedly forced Lively to conduct a serious production meeting while she was topless in her trailer, violating her personal space and dignity.
Failure to Address Workplace Harassment Complaints
Lively’s lawsuit details her repeated attempts to raise concerns with Wayfarer Studios regarding the inappropriate conduct. Despite reaching out to Sony, the film’s distributor, she was informed that the studio—Wayfarer—was responsible for handling HR complaints. However, Wayfarer allegedly ignored the issues, failing to conduct an investigation or implement safeguards to protect cast and crew.
Due to the inaction, Lively and her legal team negotiated a contractual rider, titled “Protections for Return to Production,” which mandated specific workplace safety measures, including:
The presence of an intimacy coordinator at all times during filming.
A prohibition on spontaneous physical improvisations in intimate scenes.
Restrictions on discussions of personal sexual experiences on set.
A clear policy against touching Lively without consent, including during wardrobe fittings.
A ban on unauthorized personnel entering her trailer while she was undressed.
An explicit clause prohibiting retaliation against Lively for raising concerns.
Despite these agreements, the lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and Heath continued to create a toxic work environment and ultimately engaged in a calculated retaliation campaign against Lively.
Campaign and Digital Smear Tactics
The most damning aspect of the lawsuit revolves around an alleged multi-tiered smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni, Heath, and Wayfarer Studios following the film’s release. The complaint includes internal communications where Baldoni and his PR team discussed plans to discredit Lively, including “social media manipulation” and the use of crisis PR firms to alter public perception.
Lively’s legal team obtained messages in which PR professionals hired by Wayfarer planned an astroturfing campaign—creating fake social media engagement to spread negative narratives about Lively. Allegedly, one PR executive assured Baldoni, “You know we can bury anyone,” but emphasized that such intentions could not be written explicitly in company documents.
The lawsuit further claims that Wayfarer’s billionaire financier, Steve Sarowitz, openly stated at the film’s premiere that he was willing to spend $100 million to “ruin” Lively’s life and career.
If successful, Lively’s lawsuit could set a precedent for holding film studios and their executives accountable for workplace misconduct. The case also underscores the growing influence of digital manipulation in public relations, raising concerns about the ethical responsibilities of crisis management firms in Hollywood.
The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is poised to be a landmark case in entertainment law. With accusations of workplace harassment, breaches of industry protocol, and a sophisticated retaliation scheme, the lawsuit will likely reshape discussions around power dynamics in Hollywood. As the case unfolds, it will serve as a critical test of the entertainment industry’s commitment to enforcing workplace protections and ethical public relations practices.
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