**Blake Lively Files Lawsuit Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni Over Allegations of Misconduct**

**Blake Lively has initiated legal proceedings against her co-star Justin Baldoni from the film It Ends With Us, asserting that Baldoni and his team orchestrated a campaign aimed at damaging her public image following allegations of sexual harassment.**

In a surprising turn of events, actress Blake Lively has filed a legal complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a systematic effort to tarnish her reputation. The legal documents state that Lively claims Baldoni and his associates engaged in attacks on her public persona following a meeting where she, alongside her husband Ryan Reynolds, sought to address what she describes as “repeated sexual harassment and other troubling behavior” by Baldoni and a producer working on the film.

Baldoni’s legal team has publicly denied Lively's allegations, labeling them as "categorically false" and asserting that they had enlisted a crisis management team in response to Lively's alleged threats to disrupt the film’s progress unless her demands were met. Lively's role in the romantic drama involves portraying a woman entangled in a tumultuous relationship with an abusive partner, a character played by Baldoni.

The contentious meeting took place on January 4 this year, aimed at discussing issues related to what the legal filing refers to as a “hostile work environment.” According to Lively's complaint, her husband Reynolds, who has no role in the film, attended the meeting for support. Baldoni served as co-chairman and co-founder of the production company, Wayfarer Studios, and was also the film's director.

In her legal complaint, Lively alleges inappropriate conduct by both Baldoni and Jamey Heath, the CEO of Wayfarer Studios, highlighting a series of demands made during the meeting to ensure a safety-conscious work atmosphere moving forward. These included requests to refrain from discussing Baldoni's and Heath's past “pornography addiction” and limiting inappropriate comments towards her.

Furthermore, Lively’s legal team contends that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios executed a calculated plan aimed at undermining her reputation. The complaint claims the strategy was designed to intimidate her and others from voicing their concerns regarding the toxic environment allegedly fostered by Baldoni and Heath.

Responding to the accusations, Baldoni's attorney expressed that it was regrettable for Lively to make such serious allegations. He countered that Lively had made numerous demands, threatening to withhold her participation in the film's promotion, which would jeopardize its success.

In a statement, Lively expressed her hope that her legal action would shed light on retaliatory tactics aimed at silencing those who expose misconduct in Hollywood, pledging to stand against such actions.

This controversy emerges as It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel about domestic abuse, has already sparked debate over its portrayal of sensitive themes in its narrative. Lively previously voiced her commitment to present the story with empathy, acknowledging the complexity of her character's experiences as both a victim and a survivor in the storyline.

The film has received attention not only for its box office success but also for the growing speculation regarding the dynamic between Lively and Baldoni, especially following a lack of public appearances together and comments from other cast members hinting at underlying tensions.