Behind-the-Scenes Drama: Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni in 'It Ends With Us' Legal Battle
Justin Baldoni expressed frustration with Blake Lively's behavior while filming "It Ends With Us" in a private message to his former agent. He mentioned a dispute over intimate scenes and Lively's refusal to use a body double for sex scenes, leading to involvement from Sony executives and the producer. Baldoni felt that Lively was setting him up for a trap and criticized her for rejecting his storyboards and wanting both actors fully clothed in a key romantic moment.
Following the tensions, a meeting involving Baldoni, Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and studio representatives was held to discuss protections requested by Lively before production resumed. These measures aimed to address Lively's concerns about on-set conduct and safety. However, a source close to Lively claimed that Baldoni and Heath had created a hostile work environment, leading to the requested protections.
The private messages between Baldoni and his agent were later revealed in a court filing by WME, which sought to keep certain exhibits sealed. The messages highlighted Baldoni's frustration with the safeguards agreed upon and his resentment towards attending meetings he had previously agreed to. The conflict between Baldoni and Lively escalated, resulting in legal action with Lively suing Baldoni and his associates for sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking $160 million in damages. Baldoni denied the claims and filed a countersuit, which was dismissed by a U.S. District Judge.
The ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni sheds light on the behind-the-scenes conflicts during the filming of "It Ends With Us." The trial is scheduled for May 18, with the next hearing set for January 22.