While Justin Baldoni supported Blake Lively’s future as a director for the sequel to their on-screen romance, their off-screen drama is getting heated.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s It Ends with Us has long gone from theatres but the drama between the co-stars remains. During the press tour for the film, people speculated about bad blood between the two. Now, a shocking allegation from Blake Lively’s end has revealed that the situation may be more complicated than we initially thought. Recently, the actress accused Justin Baldoni of s*xual harassment and using social manipulation to taint her reputation.
However, there was a time when Justin Baldoni supported Blake Lively when it came to giving his two cents on who should direct the next film. He revealed that he’d be taking a step back from director duties in the sequel and even claimed that Blake Lively was ready to sit on the director’s chair the next time around.
When Justin Baldoni supported Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios not only had the rights to It Ends with Us but also the novel’s sequel, It Starts with Us. Written by Colleen Hoover, the sequel revolves around the relationship between Lily and Atlas.
Thanks to Wayfarer Studios holding the rights, it only makes sense that Baldoni would return as director for the sequel. However, while talking to Entertainment Tonight, the actor revealed that he has no interest in taking up the role again.
When the reporter stated, “We do have ‘It Starts with Us,’ so I’m hoping to see you back in the double duty role,” Baldoni simply replied,
I think there are better people for that one. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct, that’s what I think.
Whether this opportunity ever comes to fruition remains uncertain, especially due to the involvement of Wayfarer Studios. Baldoni’s support came at the time when Blake Lively had become the recipient of a ton of hate on social media due to her questionable approach to promoting the film that revolved around domestic violence.
While fans blamed Lively and the film for glorifying DV, Baldoni felt that they were “absolutely entitled to that opinion” (Via AP). He understood how unsettling it can be for DV survivors to see their life experiences be told in a romance novel.
Justin Baldoni denies the allegations against him
Lively recently sued Baldoni for s*xual harassment, retaliation, and attempting to damage her reputation (via Business Insider). According to the legal complaint, Lively had raised concerns about both Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath’s misconduct, not only towards her but towards the other female cast and crew as well.
The complaint also included a bunch of text messages between publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan were involved in the alleged campaign against Lively to ruin her reputation.
Regardless, Baldoni has denied any allegations made against him. The attorney for the actor and Wayfarer Studios, Bryan Freedman, released a statement stating that these “false accusations” are nothing but another way to try and fix her negative image.
It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation, which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.
He added that the allegations made by Lively are not only false and “outrageous”, but also a means to “rehash a narrative in the media.” Who knows what this legal battle will lead to in the coming days?
