Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni of dodging responsibility for creating a 'hostile environment' on 'It Ends With Us' in latest court filing

Blake Livelys legal team has strongly opposed Justin Baldonis attempt to dismiss the case, claiming the director and star of It Ends With Us is trying to escape accountability for creating a hostile work environment during the movies production and promotion.

In court documents, Livelys attorneys assert that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios are seeking to prevent her from having her day in court. They accuse the defendants of mounting an aggressive defense against Livelys sexual harassment and retaliation claims.

The filing, which has been heavily redacted, states that Defendants created a hostile environment, and when complaints arose, they ignored Wayfarers own policies by refusing to properly investigate. The lawyers contend that instead of addressing her concerns, Baldoni and his team attacked Lively, portraying her as a bully attempting to seize control of the film, even though the project was a major financial success for Wayfarer.

Released in 2024, It Ends With Us earned $351 million on a $25 million budget. Despite the movies commercial success, Lively and Baldoni have been embroiled in a legal battle for nearly a year. Lively alleges that she was subjected to a social media smear campaign, with online commenters labeling her a bully and a mean girl after she reported Baldonis alleged misconduct.

Previously, Baldoni and his associates filed a defamation suit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which was dismissed by the court. In a motion for summary judgment submitted last month, Baldonis attorneys characterized Livelys claims as minor grievances and argued they did not constitute an actionable retaliation. They also claimed the director was simply defending his reputation, not engaging in a smear campaign.

Livelys team countered that Baldonis PR efforts deliberately and repeatedly attacked Livelys character and reputation. Should the court reject Baldonis motion, the case could proceed to trial as early as March.

Author: Maya Henderson