Blake Lively says co-star Justin Baldoni «cried for hours in her dressing room» because she didn’t feel she looked «hot»
Blake Lively has accused Justin Baldoni of «crying for hours in her dressing room» over her appearance while filming their movie It Ends With Us.
Following the controversy surrounding the film’s release this past summer, the 37-year-old actress has taken legal action against her 40-year-old co-star, claiming sexual harassment and a deliberate effort to tarnish her reputation.
The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, tells the story of Lily Bloom (Lively), a woman who relocates to a new city and falls for Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), who later becomes abusive.
In It Ends With Us, Bloom faces a difficult choice when her first love, Atlas, returns. Filming began in May 2023, shortly after Blake Lively had her fourth child with Ryan Reynolds.
In her lawsuit, Lively claims co-star and director Justin Baldoni criticized her appearance, particularly after paparazzi photos led to online comments about her looking «old.»
Lively tried to explain that her character, who had been abused, was meant to look authentic, not «hot.» However, she alleges Baldoni focused on her «sexual appeal» and his emotional outburst delayed filming, causing a rushed scene.
The lawsuit claims Justin Baldoni «routinely degraded» Blake Lively by criticizing her body and weight, including contacting her personal trainer months after she gave birth.
He allegedly asked about her weight and how to protect himself before a scene that wasn’t filmed.
Baldoni also referred her to a weight-loss specialist under the guise of medical support for strep throat, which she discovered upon filling out forms. A meeting to address her concerns included her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Blake Lively’s demands included no more nude videos, references to Baldoni’s alleged past addiction, or discussions of sexual conquests. She also requested no changes to the script she approved.
Sony Pictures agreed to her requests, but Lively claims Baldoni launched a «social manipulation» campaign to ruin her reputation, documented in emails and texts.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the claims as «false» and accused Lively of using the lawsuit to repair her image.
