Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Disputes Over Intimate Scenes in It Ends With Us

The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, sparked by Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us, has taken a dramatic turn. Lively has claimed that Baldoni made unwanted sexual advances, including describing his own sexual life, and added inappropriate and unnecessary sexual scenes to the script. She alleges that these actions amounted to harassment. Baldoni, however, has vehemently denied these accusations and countersued, accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their representative Leslie Sloane of extortion, defamation, and privacy invasion, seeking $400 million in damages.

One of the most revealing pieces of evidence in Baldoni’s defense is a set of handwritten notes from a meeting he had with the film’s intimacy coordinator, which he has made public on his website, thelawsuitinfo.com. These notes could prove crucial in resolving the case.

Timeline of Events and Key Allegations

According to Lively, there was no intimacy coordinator involved in the film’s production until she specifically requested one. She accused Baldoni of introducing unwanted kissing scenes and discussing his own sex life on set. Baldoni’s version of events, however, presents a different story. He claims that the intimacy coordinator was hired well in advance, in April 2023, but Lively refused to meet her until filming began. As a result, Baldoni, who also directed the film, had to pass the coordinator’s notes directly to Lively.

Lively’s Refusal to Meet the Intimacy Coordinator

The situation took a tense turn when, in early April 2023, Baldoni texted Lively to inform her that he had hired an intimacy coordinator he adored and wanted her to meet with the coordinator before filming. Lively, however, rejected the offer, saying she felt comfortable and could meet the coordinator when filming began. Baldoni expressed concern to an unnamed female producer, who agreed to let him meet with the coordinator without Lively and report back to her.

Baldoni’s complaint claims that because Lively refused the meeting, many intimate scenes were written without her involvement or input, despite Baldoni’s long-standing intention to work collaboratively with the coordinator. Baldoni further claims that Lively was dishonest in stating that no coordinator had been involved before filming began, as one had been hired six weeks prior.

The Noteworthy Handwritten Notes

On April 21, 2023, Baldoni met with the intimacy coordinator and took notes during the session. These notes were later shared with Lively. In these notes, phrases like “orgasm,” “climax,” and “foreplay” were discussed as part of the planned intimate scenes. Baldoni argues that these suggestions were not his own but came directly from the intimacy coordinator and were based on discussions about making the sex scenes appropriate for a predominantly female audience, as the novel’s readership is largely women.

Baldoni maintains that Lively misrepresented these professional conversations as sexual harassment. He claims that Lively couldn’t differentiate between acting out sexual scenes and personal sexual interactions, and this inability led to her accusations of harassment.

Key Legal Developments

Lively’s legal action, filed with the California Department of Civil Rights and later in federal court, accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, citing his inappropriate discussions about sex and the introduction of additional intimate content in the script. As part of her complaint, Lively’s attorneys sent a list of 17 demands to the production team in November 2023, including that an intimacy coordinator be present for all intimate scenes involving Lively and Baldoni and that no unwanted touching or sexually explicit comments occur without consent.

Baldoni argues that these demands suggest no coordinator was involved at the beginning of production, even though one had been hired well before filming started. He also contends that Lively’s claim of unwanted sexual content being added to the film is false, as the scenes were developed with Lively’s participation and consent.

The Debate Over Kissing and Nudity

Further complicating the situation were Lively’s stipulations regarding intimate scenes, including her refusal to participate in any additional nude scenes unless specific SAG-AFTRA guidelines were followed. Baldoni’s timeline disputes Lively’s accusations that she was never provided with a nudity rider, asserting that she received one long before any intimate scenes were filmed.

The ongoing legal drama continues to unfold with both sides presenting conflicting narratives about what transpired on set. Baldoni maintains that his actions were entirely professional, while Lively insists that she was subjected to unwanted sexual advances and harassment.

As this case progresses, the industry’s treatment of intimate scenes and the role of intimacy coordinators in ensuring a safe and consensual environment for actors is coming under intense scrutiny. The outcome of this lawsuit may set important precedents for how such issues are handled in the future.