Yahoo Movies Blake Lively sues It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni over "retaliatory scheme to silence her"
Blake Lively has sued It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and the “retaliatory scheme” which aimed to “silence her.”
Lively had previously taken legal action to California’s Civil Rights Department against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, last month (December 21) for sexual harassment and what her team described as “a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.”
Related: Blake Lively's It Ends With Us co-star responds to Justin Baldoni allegations
As per Deadline, Lively has now formally sued Baldoni at a federal court in New York, with the complaint naming the actor as well as Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath and co-founder Steve Sarowitz.
“The Baldoni-Wayfarer-led public attack of Ms. Lively was the intended result of a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others, from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath created,” reads the complaint.
“As such, it was not only unconscionable and a breach of contract, but also illegal under both state and federal law. Ms. Lively brings this action to hold Wayfarer and its leaders, Mr. Baldoni, Mr. Heath, and Mr. Sarowitz, accountable for the ongoing retaliation threats and harm they have caused Ms. Lively, other cast and crew, and all of their families.”
Digital Spy has reached out to Wayfarer Studios for comment.
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Lively, who played Lily Bloom in It Ends with Us, released a statement upon the filing of the previous lawsuit, writing: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Baldoni, who directed the film in addition to starring as Ryle Kincaid, responded to Lively’s allegations with a statement via his lawyer Bryan Freedman, who called the accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
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