Support for actress Blake Lively is increasing after the legal action initiated by the star of Gossip Girl, for sexual harassment and retaliation in particular, against the director Justin Baldoni with whom she co-stars in the film “Jamais Plus “.
The complaint, revealed by the New York Times this weekend, notably targets the production studio of the film released in the summer of 2024, producer Jamey Heath, Justin Baldoni and even crisis management experts.
Ms. Lively, 45 million subscribers on Instagram, criticizes MM. Baldoni and Heath for inappropriate behavior and comments, particularly of a sexual nature, during the filming of “Jamais Plus”.
“Mr. Baldoni improvised physical intimacy that was neither rehearsed, nor choreographed, nor discussed with Ms. Lively, without the involvement of an intimacy coordinator,” the complaint states in part. Full of details, it gives the example of a scene where the actor improvised, in each take, several kisses.
Blake Lively notably accuses Jamey Heath of having looked at her while she was topless, in her dressing room, and asked her not to turn around.
The document further reveals emails and text messages suggesting a campaign launched to tarnish Blake Lively's reputation and distract from possible comments she may have made regarding the alleged behavior of the two men.
It was “a resourceful, carefully crafted and coordinated retaliatory plan to silence her and prevent others from speaking out against the hostile environment created by Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath,” the complaint continues.
“You know, we can bury anyone,” said Melissa Nathan, an expert specializing in crisis management, also sued by Ms. Lively.
In a statement sent to the New York Times, Bryan Freedman, lawyer for Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer, the production studio behind the film, denounces accusations that are “completely false, scandalous and intentionally salacious, with the intention of publicly hurting and resuming a narrative in the media.
Soutien d'Amber Heard
Several movie celebrities have given their support to Blake Lively.
“I experienced this directly and up close. It is as terrible as it is destructive,” Amber Heard said in a statement sent to NBC.
Johnny Depp, Amber Heard's ex-husband, called on the same crisis management team at the time of the defamation trial between the two actors, ultimately won by the Pirates of the Caribbean star. The actress suffered a torrent of misogynistic attacks on social networks.
“Social networks are the absolute incarnation of the adage saying: + a lie crosses half the planet before the truth begins to make its way +”, estimated the actress.
“As friends and sisters of Blake for over 20 years, we stand with her as she fights back against an alleged campaign designed to destroy her reputation,” actresses America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn wrote on Instagram. and Alexis Bledel, starring in 2005's “Four Girls and Jeans”, alongside Blake Lively.
“During the filming of +Jamais Plus+, we saw her find the strength to ask for a healthy work environment for herself and her colleagues on the set,” continue the actresses.
“We are horrified to read evidence of premeditated and vindictive efforts to discredit his word.”
According to the New York Times, after these revelations, the celebrity agency WME stopped representing Justin Baldoni.
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