Author of It Ends With Us, Colleen Hoover, expressed support for Blake Lively following allegations of sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni.
Justin Baldoni, who directed and starred in the adaptation of Hoover’s novel, was recently dropped by his talent agency, WME, after Lively filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Hoover took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message for Lively. Posting a photo of herself hugging the actress, Hoover wrote, “You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive, and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
This statement comes in the wake of a formal complaint filed by Lively with the California Civil Rights Department. In the document, she alleges Baldoni engaged in misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us.
The Allegations
Lively’s complaint includes claims that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate physical contact during scenes without rehearsals or discussions, bypassing the use of an intimacy coordinator. Specific allegations include unplanned kissing, caressing her neck with his mouth, and making comments about her scent.
The lawsuit also accuses Baldoni of pressuring Lively to simulate full nudity in a birth scene and hiring a close friend to play a doctor in that sequence, which she found invasive and humiliating. Additional allegations involve Baldoni making inappropriate remarks about her appearance, sharing personal details about his sex life, and setting her up with a weight-loss specialist without her consent.
The complaint further details an alleged incident where Baldoni invaded Lively’s personal space while she was breastfeeding and a subsequent meeting involving Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, and others to establish clear boundaries for the remainder of the shoot. These terms reportedly included the presence of an intimacy coordinator and prohibiting Baldoni from making comments about his sex life, porn addiction, or Lively’s appearance.
Claims of Retaliation
According to Lively’s complaint, Baldoni hired a crisis public relations firm to mount a “coordinated and well-financed retaliation plan” should her allegations become public.
Public and Legal Responses
Lively has also received support from her sister, actress Robyn Lively, who shared a collage summarizing the allegations on social media with the caption, “FINALLY justice for my sister @BlakeLively.”
Justin Baldoni and his representatives, however, have categorically denied the allegations. Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, stated, “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations… These claims are completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
Baldoni’s talent agency, William Morris Endeavor, severed ties with him following the allegations, as reported by the New York Times.
The Bigger Picture
It Ends With Us marks the first adaptation of Hoover’s novels for the big screen. The film stars Lively as Lily, a woman grappling with a traumatic past while navigating an unhealthy relationship with Ryle, played by Baldoni. Despite behind-the-scenes turmoil, the film grossed $350 million worldwide upon its August release.
As the controversy unfolds, Hoover’s message of solidarity underscores the broader conversations around workplace harassment and accountability in the entertainment industry.
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