Actress Blake Lively has filed a comprehensive 80-page lawsuit against her ‘It Ends With Us’ director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a coordinated defamation campaign against her through his PR and crisis management team. Baldoni has denied all allegations.
In her complaint, the actress has alleged that Baldoni attempted to mount a smear campaign against her and claims his behaviour caused her and her family “severe emotional harm.” The suit outlines a series of alleged incidents, including professional misconduct, retaliatory online campaigns, and inappropriate behaviour, supported by purported text messages, emails, and internal documents.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney representing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, called the claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
He pushed back against Lively’s allegations of a coordinated campaign, saying the studio “proactively” hired a crisis manager “due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production.”
The suit reportedly bares names of several top Hollywood stars, including Blake’s inner circle, like husband Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift and other personalities like former co-stars Leighton Meester and Anna Kendrick, among others for various reasons.
In the suit, the actress accuses Baldoni of directing his PR team to employ “astroturfing,” a deceptive strategy to create the illusion of grassroots criticism against her. In one instance, he allegedly shared a social media post about Hailey Bieber’s past controversies as an example for his team. He allegedly sent a screenshot of a thread titled “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying women” to PR executive Jennifer Abel, stating, “This is what we would need.”
Crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan, known for working with high-profile clients, allegedly led the effort, promising Baldoni that Lively would be “destroyed” and “buried.”
Lively alleges that Baldoni became increasingly concerned after she and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, unfollowed him and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, on Instagram. In May 2024, Baldoni allegedly texted his publicist, writing, “We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out. Plans make me feel more at ease.”
The lawsuit accuses the director of adding explicit scenes to the script of ‘It Ends With Us’, without Lively’s consent. This included a graphic depiction of a character’s orgasm. When the actress objected, Baldoni allegedly insisted on keeping one scene where the characters climax simultaneously on their wedding night, citing personal significance. He reportedly asked Lively invasive questions about her own marital intimacy, which she refused to answer.
Emails included in the complaint allegedly outline a plan to plant stories accusing Lively’s friend Taylor Swift of “weaponizing feminism.”
The team also reportedly strategized to cast doubt on Lively’s working relationships with former co-stars like Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Anna Kendrick (A Simple Favor), and Ben Affleck (The Town), suggesting that journalists scrutinize these dynamics to deflect attention from Baldoni.
Besides the jabs at her professional life, the lawsuit includes allegations that Baldoni’s team circulated TikTok links and other content suggesting Lively should divorce Ryan Reynolds, claiming her marriage was affecting her career and the film’s production.
Justin Baldoni has categorically denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and pledged to contest the claims vigorously. With both sides expected to present additional evidence, the case is shaping up to be one of the most controversial ones in the entertainment industry.

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, who is best known for his portrayal of Shaktimaan, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing trend of mythology-based films in the industry. His remarks come amidst discussions about Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, following his intense role as Rannvijay in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s directorial Animal.
Khanna emphasized the sanctity of mythological characters, urging filmmakers to handle these portrayals with care. “Ram and Krishna are meant to be divine and beautiful, not conventionally handsome. For instance, you wouldn’t depict Ram or Krishna with a moustache. These characters hold a sacred image – Krishna, for example, is often depicted as gracefully beautiful. Adding a beard or altering his traditional look would completely distort his identity,” he explained.
The veteran actor criticized modern reinterpretations of mythological characters that stray from tradition, pointing out how such changes could hurt sentiments. “Imagine creating an Adipurush where Ram has a moustache, wears leather outfits and slippers, or Hanuman speaks in Tapori language. Such depictions would be highly provocative and disrespectful,” Khanna said in reference to Om Raut’s Adipurush starring Prabhas.

Drawing a comparison, he highlighted Ranveer Singh’s casting. “Ranveer is a brilliant actor, but his flamboyant image doesn’t align with the sacredness required for roles like Shaktimaan or Ram. The actor chosen must embody the essence of these iconic characters. If an actor better suited for Ravan is cast as Ram, it would be unjust to the character of Ram.”
Khanna also addressed the argument of creative freedom, referencing writer Manoj Muntashir’s controversial statements about creating content for children. “Freedom of expression isn’t absolute. Would they dare create content that challenges the faith of other communities like Muslims? No, because they fear backlash. But here, they exploit the freedom, knowing Hindus won’t resort to violence, and gain free publicity worth crores.”

As mythology gains prominence in the industry, Khanna urged filmmakers to approach these subjects with authenticity, reverence, and respect. “Hindus are standing up now, demanding that their beliefs be respected. If you’re working with mythology, ensure it is done with care. These aren’t just stories; they’re a reflection of faith and identity for millions.”