The American star accuses Justin Baldoni, actor and director of his latest film, of sexual harassment followed by a smear campaign. Since these revelations, the actress Gossip Girl receives an avalanche of support.
Support for actress Blake Lively is growing after the legal action initiated by the star of Gossip Girlfor sexual harassment and retaliation in particular, against the director Justin Baldoni with whom she shared the poster for the film Never Again This year.
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, accuses Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath of inappropriate behavior and comments, particularly of a sexual nature, during the filming of Never Again.
“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 also accuses Jamey Heath of having looked at her while she was topless, in her dressing room, and asked her not to turn around.
An alleged smear campaign
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,” Melissa Nathan, the crisis management expert hired by Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath, reportedly said about Blake Lively.
In a press release sent to the New York Times, Bryan Freedman, lawyer for Justin 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. Notably Brandon Sklenar, another actor in Never Again. The actor shared the content of the complaint filed by the actress in his Instagram story. “For the love of God, read it everyone,” he wrote, sending a heart emoji to the actress.
Amber Heard reacted with a long press release sent to the NBC channel. “I experienced this directly and up close. It is as terrible as it is destructive,” she wrote.
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 make its way',” said the actress.
Support from former colleagues
“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 and Alexis Bledel, appearing in 2005 in Four girls and jeans alongside Blake Lively.
“During the filming of Never Againwe saw her find the strength to demand a healthy work environment for herself and her colleagues on set,” the actresses continue.
“We are horrified to read evidence of premeditated and vindictive efforts to discredit his word.”
First results for Justin Baldoni
According to the New York Times, after these revelations, the celebrity agency WME stopped representing Justin Baldoni.
The actor-director is also creator of the hit podcast Man Enoughwhich advocates non-toxic masculinity. This activity made him a figure in the fight for the cause of women.
Following the revelations about Blake Lively's complaint, the co-host of this podcast Liz Plank announced her resignation. Vital Voices, an association which presented an award to Justin Baldoni last month to recognize his work as an ally of the feminist struggle, announced the cancellation of this award on Tuesday.
