Blake Lively has accused her ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star Justin Baldoni of a sexual harassment and smear campaign.

Actress Blake Lively sued herself. “It ends with us” co-star Justin Baldoni on sexual harassment.

For months, rumors had swirled that a feud was brewing between the two actors, which culminated in a lawsuit in which Lively claimed Baldoni, who also directed the film, caused her “severe emotional distress.”

The complaint, obtained by CBS News, names Baldoni, the producer of “It Ends With Us,” and Baldoni’s publicist among the defendants. The New York Times first reported the complaint filed Friday with the California Department of Civil Rights.

The complaint contains the 37-year-old actress’ claims against her co-star after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds met, alleging “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” by Baldoni and the filmmaker. , he and the studio “launched a “pyramid scheme” to tarnish her reputation after the meeting.”

Lively said in a statement to The New York Times that she hopes her legal action will “help put a stop to these vicious acts of retaliation that harm those who speak out about misconduct and help protect others who may be targeted.” “he said. Lively’s spokesperson referred CBS News to the Times report, which said Lively denied planting or spreading negative information about Baldoni or the studio.

According to the New York Times, the suit also includes text messages sent by Baldoni’s publicist to a studio publicist in which the actress wrote, “She wants to feel like she can be buried,” and “We will destroy her.” “I can’t,” he said.

The complaint also said Baldoni “suddenly took a turn” in the film’s marketing plan and “used domestic violence ‘survivor content’ to protect his public image.”

“These claims are completely false, outrageous, and intentionally obscene in an attempt to publicly undermine and rehash the media’s narrative,” attorney Brian Friedman said in a statement to The Associated Press. Freedman represents Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its principals.

In response to Lively’s alleged coordinated campaign, Friedman said the studio “proactively” hired a crisis manager “due to various demands and threats from Ms. Lively during the production process.” He said Lively threatened not to show up on set and promote the film “if her demands were not met.” These requirements were not specified in the statement.

The film, released last August, is based on Colin Hoover’s best-selling novel of the same name. The book spent 164 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and eager fans awaited the film’s release.

However, in the days and weeks leading up to its release, rumors swirled about a feud brewing between Lively and Baldoni. During the film’s promotion, Baldoni did most of the press solo work and did not pose with the cast at the film’s New York premiere.

Lively plays the film’s protagonist, Lily, and Baldoni plays a seemingly kind but abusive neurosurgeon.

In an interview with CBS MorningWhile promoting the film, Baldoni said he hopes the film will help create a safer world through compassion and empathy. He said he wants men to go see romantic movies and take responsibility for their own lives after watching them.

“I want men to go to the theater and see themselves in some way. You have two very different characters – Atlas and Ryle, both of whom have suffered past trauma,” he said. “One person copes very differently than another, and my other hope is that people who haven’t done the work, who haven’t done the work to heal, that if they see a little bit of themselves in Ryle, they have the opportunity to take a step back and say: ‘I don’t want to blow up my life and hurt the person I love the most.'”