Nicole Rivelli
Blake Lively has filed a complaint against director and actor Justin Baldoni, whom she accuses of harassment.
SEXIST AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE – The release of the film had already caused a stir, due to the controversial treatment of a book on domestic violence. Today she is the leading actress of Never Again (It Ends With Us) who comes out of silence to accuse director Justin Baldoni, his on-screen partner in the film, of sexual harassment on the set, then of trying to ruin his reputation. Blake Lively filed a complaint on Friday December 20 in California.
In his complaint, reported by the New York Times and consulted by the AP press agency, Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni as well as the studio and the communicators behind the adaptation of Never Again to have embarked on a “multi-level plan” to damage his reputation.
A plan “ sophisticated » pour « destroy » Blake Lively
According to the 37-year-old actress, this plan was put in place after a meeting during which she discussed, in the presence of her husband Ryan Reynolds, the “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” from Justin Baldoni and another producer of the film.
Still according to the complaint, this plan consisted of organizing a smear campaign on social networks, for example by spreading harmful theories about Blake Lively on online forums and by supporting press articles critical of the actress. revealed by Gossip Girl. The latter accuses Justin Baldoni for having called on crisis communications specialists as part of this “sophisticated, coordinated and well-funded retaliation plan” intended for the” bury “ and to the ” destroy ” if she publicly revealed her feelings about what happened on set. This team would also have tried to remove any negative content related to Justin Baldoni.
Justin Baldoni responded to these accusations through one of his lawyers, Bryan Freedman, who described them as “completely false, scandalous and intentionally salacious.” According to him, the studio had « proactivement » hired a crisis manager “due to multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production.”
Preventing a toxic atmosphere on set
After the meeting during which she was able to express her concerns regarding Justin Baldoni's behavior, Blake Lively made 30 requests which, according to her, were accepted by the director and other professionals present on the set . The actress asked, for example, that we not talk about pornography or sexual experiences on set, or that Justin Baldoni no longer asks his personal coach about his weight without his consent, reports AP.
These requirements also stipulated that there would be no “no more improvisation of kissing scenes” or adding sex scenes to the film outside of those in the script that Lively had approved when signing her contract. Blake Lively also requested the presence of an intimacy coordinator for the scenes with Justin Baldoni.
“I hope my legal action helps to shed light on these sinister retaliatory tactics aimed at harming those who speak out about wrongdoing and protecting others who may be targeted.”said the actress in a statement to New York Times.
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