Actress Blake Lively has amplified her legal battle against "It Ends With Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni, filing an amended complaint with new allegations and evidence. The 141-page document, submitted to a New York federal court, reportedly details claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, emotional distress, and now defamation. Lively's legal team asserts the amended complaint provides further corroboration of her initial claims, including communication records and accounts from additional witnesses. They also allege that two other actresses are prepared to testify about their own uncomfortable experiences with Baldoni on set.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has countered these claims, labeling them as "hearsay" and criticizing the amended complaint as being "filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons." He maintains that his clients have been forthright, providing documentation and video evidence that contradicts Lively's narrative. Freedman also anticipates that upcoming depositions will shed light on the situation and expose what he considers to be Lively’s lack of concrete evidence.
Lively’s representatives contend that the amended complaint reveals a culture of fear on set, alleging that other women were hesitant to come forward with their own complaints due to concerns about public backlash and potential retaliation. They claim a Sony representative addressed these concerns with Baldoni, who allegedly promised to rectify the situation but instead focused on hiring a crisis management team and legal counsel. The complaint further accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign to discredit Lively and any other women who might speak out. Due to the ongoing alleged harassment and targeting of witnesses, the two other actresses are not named in the complaint, but Lively's spokesperson states they have authorized the sharing of their communications and will provide testimony and documentation during the discovery process.
Lively’s team also questions the validity of an internal investigation conducted by Wayfarer Studios, characterizing it as a delayed and insufficient response to the initial harassment claims. The ongoing legal dispute has seen Baldoni file a separate lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, and release unedited footage from the film set, which both sides interpret as supporting their respective positions. A judge has recently imposed restrictions on both legal teams, limiting their public statements to avoid prejudicing a potential jury.
