For months, rumors swirled of the beginnings of a rift between the two actors that apparently culminated in Lively’s lawsuit in which she accused Baldoni — who also directed the film — of causing her “severe emotional distress.”
The complaint, obtained by CBS News, names Baldoni, the studio behind “It Ends With Us,” and Baldoni’s publicist as defendants. The New York Times first reported the complaint, which was filed Friday with the California Department of Civil Rights.
Scott A. Garft / Invasion / AP
The complaint includes the 37-year-old actress’ allegations against her co-star, following a meeting in which she and her husband Ryan Reynolds were “repeatedly sexually harassed and harassed” by Baldoni and one of the film’s producers. Other Disturbing Behaviors” addressed. , she and the studio embarked on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation after the meeting.
In a statement to The New York TimesLively said she hopes her legal action will “help expose these nefarious acts of retaliation to harm those who speak out about abuse and help protect others who are targeted.” can be made.” A rep for Lively cited the Times report to CBS News, in which Lively denied planting or spreading negative information about Baldoni or the studio.
According to the New York Times, the lawsuit also includes alleged texts from Baldoni’s publicist to a studio publicist saying the actor “wanted to feel like he could be buried,” and “We don’t write that.” We can destroy it.”
The complaint also states that Baldoni “suddenly deviated from the film’s marketing plan” and used “domestic violence survivor material to protect her public image.”
Attorney Brian Friedman told the AP in a statement, “These claims are completely false, inflammatory and intentionally reprehensible and are intended to publicly undermine and re-present a narrative in the media. ” Friedman represents Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives.
Ivan Agostini/Invasion/AP
Friedman pushed back against Lively’s accusations of a coordinated campaign, saying the studio “steadily” hired a crisis manager. “due to the numerous demands and threats made by Mrs. Lively during the production.” He said Lively threatened not to show up on set and not promote the film “if his demands were not met”. The statement did not elaborate on these demands.
Released in August, the film is based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel of the same name. The book spent 164 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and its devoted fans awaited the film’s release.
However, in the days and weeks of its release, rumors swirled regarding an alleged on-set feud between Lively and Baldoni. While promoting the film, Baldoni did most of her press solo and did not pose with the cast during the film’s New York premiere.
Lily plays the film’s protagonist Lily, while Baldoni plays a neurosurgeon who seems like a nice guy but is abusive.
In an interview with CBS MorningsBaldoni promoted the film, saying that he hoped the film would help create a safer world through empathy and compassion. He said that he wants men to watch a romantic movie and take responsibility in their lives after watching it.
“I want men to go to the theater and in some ways see a version of themselves. You have two completely different characters. In Atlas and Royal, they both have trauma in the past,” he said. “One handles it very differently from the other and my other hope is that men who haven’t done the work, who haven’t done the work to fix it, if they see pieces of themselves at Royal, step back and say Chances are, ‘You know I don’t want to blow my life with the one I love the most’.