In a significant legal development, actress Blake Lively has officially filed a lawsuit against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The complaint, obtained by Fox News Digital, was submitted on Tuesday. Lively initially reported the incident to the California Civil Rights Department in December, accusing Baldoni of inappropriate behavior during the filming of "It Ends With Us." She further claimed that after voicing her concerns, Baldoni, along with a crisis PR team, orchestrated a retaliatory campaign aimed at damaging her career. Meanwhile, Baldoni has filed a $250 million defamation suit against the New York Times, claiming their article contained inaccuracies and misrepresentations.

Allegations of Misconduct and Retaliation

Lively's lawsuit accuses Baldoni of engaging in repeated instances of sexual harassment while working on the film "It Ends With Us." According to the documents, Lively raised these concerns with the California Civil Rights Department in December. She alleged that Baldoni, who also directed the film, created an uncomfortable work environment. Lively's representatives emphasized that her claims remain unchanged and are supported by both the initial complaint and the federal lawsuit she filed on Tuesday. They assert that Baldoni and his associates devised a coordinated plan to silence her and others who spoke out against the misconduct.

The detailed allegations include discussions of personal sexual experiences and past porn addiction on set, which Lively found deeply disturbing. She claims that Baldoni, along with producer Jamey Heath, engaged in inappropriate conversations that contributed to a toxic atmosphere. Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds addressed these issues multiple times, but instead of resolving them, Baldoni allegedly initiated a retaliatory campaign. This campaign involved a multi-tiered strategy to damage Lively's reputation and career. Her legal team is prepared to address all accusations in court, confident that the evidence will vindicate her claims.

Counter-Suit and Media Controversy

Baldoni has responded to Lively's allegations by filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the New York Times. He contends that the newspaper's article contained numerous inaccuracies and omissions, painting him in a false light. The article, titled "We Can Bury Anyone," suggested that Baldoni and his associates were part of a smear campaign targeting Lively. However, Baldoni argues that the Times deliberately omitted critical information that contradicted Lively's version of events, thereby defaming him and others involved.

The controversy surrounding the case has escalated as both parties prepare for legal battles. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, accused the Times of manipulating texts and omitting crucial context from communications that dispute many of Lively's claims. He stated that the article's central thesis—that Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory PR campaign—was categorically false. In contrast, the Times maintains that their story was meticulously reported and based on thousands of pages of original documents. A spokesperson for the Times emphasized that they published the full statements from Baldoni and others in response to the allegations and plan to defend against the lawsuit vigorously. As the legal proceedings unfold, the entertainment industry watches closely, anticipating the outcome of this high-profile dispute.