Justin Baldoni has been dropped as a client by WME following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively. The decision was made by WME leadership on December 21, with Lively still being represented by the talent agency. In the lawsuit, Lively alleges that Baldoni’s behavior on set caused her severe emotional distress, leading to a hostile work environment during the film’s production. Baldoni, who starred, directed, and produced the film, has denied the allegations made against him, claiming Lively filed the lawsuit to fix her negative reputation.
A meeting was held during the production of It Ends With Us to address Lively’s claims of a hostile work environment, with attendees including Baldoni, Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, and others who worked on the film. Lively’s demands for the meeting included no more showing of nude videos or images, no mention of Baldoni’s alleged pornography addiction, and no discussions about sexual conquests in front of her or others. Baldoni’s lawyer has called Lively’s allegations completely false and intentionally salacious, accusing her of filing the lawsuit to rehash a narrative regarding the film’s production.
Lively has accused Baldoni’s team of intentionally dragging her name through the mud with an “astroturfing” campaign. She has denied spreading negative information about Baldoni and hopes that her legal action will expose retaliatory tactics used to harm those who speak out about misconduct. In response to Lively’s claims, Baldoni’s lawyer states that she made multiple demands and threats during filming, such as threatening to not show up to set or promote the film unless her demands were met. The situation has led to a public dispute between the two parties.
Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni and the subsequent fallout from WME dropping him as a client has sparked a conversation about workplace harassment and the power dynamics in the entertainment industry. Both parties have made public statements denying the allegations and accusations made against them, with Lively hoping that her legal action will protect others who may be targeted in similar situations. It remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and what impact it will have on their careers moving forward. The allegations made in the lawsuit and the response from both sides have brought attention to the importance of addressing and preventing harassment in the workplace.
