A shoot with a heavy atmosphere. American actress Blake Lively filed a complaint this Friday against actor and director Justin Baldoni, with whom she worked on the film “Never Again”, for sexual harassment. The actress also believes that she was the victim of a massive smear campaign led by her ex-collaborator.
The affair was revealed in the New York Times this Saturday. In her complaint, actress Blake Lively, who plays the role of Lily Bloom in the film “Never Again”, accuses her director and on-screen companion Justin Baldoni of having hatched a “multi-level plan” to harm his reputation.
This smear plan allegedly followed a meeting during which she denounced “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” from Justin Baldoni and a producer of the film.
A smear campaign on social networks
The actress denounces in particular kisses imposed by Justin Baldoni, and says she had discussions with the actor about his sex life, discussions during which he confided not having had the consent of his partners during certain relationships.
Blake Lively says she was also a victim of the film's producer, Jamey Heath, who allegedly watched her changing in her dressing room, even though she had asked him not to do so. She also says that the producer showed her a video of his own wife, naked.
After expressing her discomfort, a lot of negative content towards the actress emerged online, in forums, on social networks and in press articles. At the same time, Justin Baldoni allegedly used content highlighting victims of domestic violence – one of the themes of the film “Never Again” – in order to “protect his public image”, indicates the complaint.
In a statement, the actor's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, believes that Blake Lively's allegations “are completely false” and “scandalous.” They are “intentionally salacious with the aim of causing public harm and rehashing a narrative in the media,” he added.
Lots of online speculation
Justin Baldoni and his production studio had commissioned a crisis communications consultant not to fuel a smear campaign, but “because of the multiple demands and threats made” by Blake Lively “during filming,” defends Bryan Freedman.
“I hope that my legal action will help to lift the veil on these sinister retaliatory tactics aimed at harming those who report wrongdoing and protecting others who may be targeted,” commented Blake Lively. , in the columns of the New York Times.
This affair risks putting another piece in the machine of numerous online speculations surrounding the filming of the film “Nevermore”, released last August in France. On social networks, several Internet users then mentioned the existence of a possible dispute between the two stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who never appeared together during the film's promotional campaign.
Adapted from the best-seller of the same name by Colleen Hoover, released in 2016, “Never Again” made $50 million in box office revenue in the United States. In France, the film managed to accumulate more than 1.3 million admissions.
