Blake Lively Withdraws from SNL Premiere Following Harassment Lawsuit Against It Ends With Us Co-Star Justin Baldoni

As an ardent fan who has followed Blake Lively’s career with admiration, it’s disheartening to see such a talented and graceful actress face allegations of this nature. Her life experience, marked by professional success and personal charm, seems to have placed her in a position where she felt compelled to speak up against workplace misconduct.

The reason for Blake Lively leaving as the host for the premiere of Saturday Night Live’s 50th season appears to be due to a conflict arising from accusations of workplace misconduct against Justin Baldoni, her co-star in the movie “It Ends With Us,” and the film’s director.

As stated in a lawsuit submitted to the California Civil Rights Department, Lively allegedly admitted to sexually harassing her and orchestrated a retaliatory slander campaign after she started voicing concerns about his workplace behavior. The complaint further asserts that this negative publicity prevented Lively from attending public events without addressing the issue.

Therefore, she relinquished prominent roles like hosting SNL and participating at a significant Target event for her haircare line. This information is found within an 80-page lawsuit that recounts some distressing events, including instances where he reportedly improvised explicit scenes and discussed his porn addiction, making inappropriate remarks that left Lively uncomfortable and vulnerable.

According to Deadline, the report states that the impact on Ms. Lively’s career was swift and significant. For instance, Ms. Livery called off a crucial corporate event for her haircare company, and she withdrew from her commitment to host the opening episode of Saturday Night Live during its 50th anniversary season in September 2024.

Lawyer Bryan Freedman of Baldoni refuted the allegations as groundless, implying that Lively is attempting to restore her tarnished reputation by doing so, referencing her comments made during the movie’s promotional tour. He declared, “It’s disgraceful for Ms. Lively and her representatives to make such weighty and completely false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their associates, as another desperate ploy to improve her damaged reputation, which was earned from her own statements and actions during the film’s promotional campaign.

Freedman labeled the accusations as “entirely untrue, excessively scandalous, and deliberately sensational, aimed at causing harm and reviving a story in the press.

After the legal action was initiated, Justin Baldoni’s talent agency, WME, decided to part ways with him, and author Colleen Hoover voiced her support for Blake Lively, commending her for her honesty and moral character.

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2024-12-23 10:08