Blake Lively on Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath's behavior on the set of “It Ends with Us”

The case concerns situations that allegedly occurred on the set of the film “It Ends with Us”, which premiered this summer and became a cinema hit. It tells the story of a woman who, after overcoming a traumatic childhood, meets a man who seems to be her soulmate. However, she soon begins to see his darker side. Then love from years ago stands in her way.

The main actress, Blake Lively, an actress associated primarily with her role in the TV series “Gossip Girl”, claims that during filming Justin Baldoni, her on-screen partner and director of the film, as well as Jamey Heath, one of the producers, repeatedly violated her personal space and directed inappropriate sexual comments towards her. Lively then allegedly threatened to discontinue her participation in the production.

Therefore, a meeting was held in winter, which, apart from those interested, was also attended by Lively's husband, actor and producer Ryan Reynolds, known, among others, from the film “Deadpool”.

Wayfarer Studios, producing “It Ends with Us,” agreed to provide a full-time intimacy coordinator on set, bring in an outside producer and introduce other measures to improve the atmosphere on set. In a letter accompanying Lively's contract, signed by Heath, the studio also agreed not to retaliate against the actress.

In agreeing to the terms Lively demanded, Wayfarer acknowledged: “While our assessments differ in many respects, ensuring a comfortable environment for all is paramount.”

Lively, quoted by the New York Times, admitted that men's behavior improved in the spring thanks to new rules introduced on the set.

However, now the actress has decided to file a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights because – as she claims – the men, as part of retaliation, decided to organize a smear campaign against her. The BBC explains that such action by the actress is “one legal step” before a lawsuit.

In the 80-page letter, detailed by the New York Times, Lively claims, among other things, that Baldoni improvised kissing scenes and discussed his sex life, and that Jamey Heath showed videos of his wife in which she was seen naked. Lively indicated that both men entered her trailer uninvited on numerous occasions, including while she was undressed and while she was breastfeeding her baby.

The letter presented emails and text messages from Baldoni and his team, which it said detailed media strategies on how to respond to the actress' disclosure of her allegations.

According to a letter from Lively's lawyers, the actress expressed concerns about Baldoni's attitude from the very beginning and therefore, before filming began, she opposed the sex scenes that he wanted to add to the script.

The actress, accusing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of running a smear campaign against her, stated that their actions were the result of a “deliberate, carefully crafted, coordinated and well-resourced retaliatory plan aimed at silencing her and others from speaking out.” hostile atmosphere created on set by Baldoni and Heath.” Lively suggested in the letter that to achieve their goal, Baldoni and Heath hired crisis management expert Melissa Nathan.

In early August, a spokeswoman for Wayfarer Studios and Baldoni wrote to Nathan that her client “wants to feel” that Lively could be “buried in the media.” “You know we can bury anyone,” replied Nathan, whose past clients included, among others Johnny Depprapper Drake or Travis Scott.

Wayfarer Studios attorney Bryan Freedman said in a statement that the studio and its executives and public relations representatives “did not retaliate” against Lively and accused the actress of “another desperate attempt to 'repair' her unfavorable reputation, which Lively herself built with her statements and actions during the film's promotional campaign.

“These completely false, outrageous and intentionally lewd claims are made with the intent to cause public harm and to rekindle media narratives,” Freedman wrote.

The lawyer did not comment on her allegations about Baldoni and Heath's inappropriate behavior on the film set. He alleged that Lively fed the media “negative and completely made-up false stories” about Baldoni, which he said “was another reason why Wayfarer Studios decided to hire a crisis specialist.”

In a statement to CNN, Lively said: “I hope my legal action will help expose the behind the scenes of these sinister retaliatory tactics designed to harm those who speak up about inappropriate behavior and help protect others who may fall victim to them.”

After the actress' accusations, the industry portal “Variety” reported that the agency representing Baldoni – WME – terminated his cooperation agreement. WME also represents Lively.