In December 2024, actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her ‘It Ends with Us’ co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign during the film’s production in California.
From the very beginning…
It Ends With Us premiered on Aug. 9. 2024, starring Blake Lively as Lily Bloom and Justin Bladoni as Ryle Kinciad. From the get-go, the two co-stars never seemed to be in the same place at once: Baldoni (who was also the movie’s producer) often promoted the film solo, while Lively (who was also an executive producer) appeared alongside her fellow co-stars and IEWU author Colleen Hoover. Fans also noticed that while Baldoni followed his castmates on Instagram, none followed him back. The two stars had different approaches when it came to promoting the movie as well. While Baldoni focused more on the domestic violence that was the heart of the story, Lively talked about it like it was a rom-com rather than a drama about abuse, sources say. She also took advantage of the recognition the movie was getting to advertise her hair-care & beverage lines, which struck many as tone-deaf.
Wait, what’s the beef?
On Dec. 20. Lively filed her first initial complaint against Baldoni, stating that he “created a hostile work environment that nearly derailed production,” speaking to and behaving toward their female colleagues in inappropriate and sexually charged ways. She filed an official lawsuit on Dec. 31 in New York, claiming sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and false-light invasion of privacy. Baldoni filed his first claim on Dec. 31. against the LA Times, accusing the paper of “cherry picking” details and context. In a statement to the Times, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” and accused her of making “yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation. Lively’s legal team responded to that, saying it was “another chapter in the abuser playbook.” Baldoni countersued Blake Lively for $400 million in early 2025, following her lawsuit against him in December 2024, claiming that all of Lively’s accusations were false and aimed at damaging his reputation.
What is the public saying?
This dispute between the two celebrities has caused varied reactions from fans and the public. Many fans and industry colleagues have rallied behind Blake Lively. Notably, her co-stars from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Alexis Bledel—issued a joint statement expressing their support. The statement highlighted Lively’s courage in advocating for a safe workplace environment. Additionally, author Colleen Hoover, author of IEWU, publicly backed Lively, urging her to “never wilt”. On the other hand, some fans criticize Lively. She mostly faces backlash for promoting her brands alongside a film addressing domestic violence. Supporters of Baldoni argue that Lively’s allegations are unfounded and intended to harm his reputation. They believe he is being unjustly targeted and support his decision to legally defend himself.
Junior Lauren Dumaresq says, “I think that Justin is right in this situation. From past projects that he has been featured in, such as Jane the Virgin (another show that required a lot of physical action), he has always remained very professional and kind to his co-stars…Meanwhile, Blake Lively has received numerous complaints about her attitude, lack of respect, and demanding personality.”
While most are taking sides, there is a part of the public that remains neutral, acknowledging that both parties deserve a fair legal process. Overall, the public sentiment is mixed, with most people taking sides and some remaining neutral.
