Support for actress Blake Lively is growing after the legal action launched by the star of Gossip Girlfor sexual harassment and retaliation in particular, against the director Justin Baldoni with whom she co-stars in the film Never Again.
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.
Blake Lively, 45 million subscribers on Instagram, criticizes MM. Baldoni and Heath inappropriate behavior and comments, particularly of a sexual nature, during the filming of Never Again.
“Mr. Baldoni improvised physical intimacy that had not been rehearsed, choreographed, or discussed with Ms. Lively, without the involvement of an intimacy coordinator.”stipulates in particular the complaint. 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 two men's alleged behavior.
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”continues the complaint.
“You know, we can bury anyone”would have said Melissa Nathan, expert specializing in crisis management, also sued by Blake 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 “completely false, scandalous and intentionally salacious, with the intention of causing public harm and repeating a narrative in the media.”
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”said Amber Heard, in a press release 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, which was ultimately won by the star of Pirates of the Caribbean. The actress suffered a torrent of misogynistic attacks on social networks.
“Social media is the absolute embodiment of the adage that says: a lie crosses half the planet before the truth begins to take hold.”estimated the actress.
“As friends and sisters of Blake for over 20 years, we stand with her as she defends herself against an alleged campaign designed to destroy her reputation.”wrote on Instagram, actresses America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, starring in 2005 in Four girls and jeansalongside Blake Lively.
“During the filming of 'Never Again', we saw her find the strength to demand a healthy work environment for herself and her colleagues on 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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