Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds will reportedly not attend the upcoming Golden Globes, despite Reynolds’ film Deadpool & Wolverine being nominated for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. The decision comes amid Lively’s ongoing legal battle with her former It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
Lively Accuses Baldoni Of Misconduct
On December 20, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic workplace environment during the production of It Ends With Us. Her allegations include claims of Baldoni showing her inappropriate content, entering her trailer uninvited while she was undressed, and improvising physical intimacy without prior discussion. Baldoni has denied all accusations, calling them “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
Smear Campaign Allegations And Second Lawsuit
In addition to her initial claims, Lively alleged that Baldoni, along with publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis PR consultant Melissa Nathan, orchestrated a “smear campaign” to tarnish her reputation. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed these accusations as baseless.
Also Read: ‘Power Of Paanch’ Set To Premiere On ‘Disney+ Hotstar’: Release Date, Plot, Cast & More
On New Year’s Eve, Blake Lively escalated the dispute by filing a second federal lawsuit in New York, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress, lost wages, and other damages. Her attorneys stated that she has faced further retaliation since coming forward.
Conflicting Accounts Of Alleged Events
Both lawsuits reference an alleged incident on January 4 at Lively and Reynolds’ New York penthouse, where Baldoni claimed Reynolds berated him. Lively countered that the meeting addressed Baldoni’s behavior. Freedman announced plans to release text messages purportedly showing Lively inviting Baldoni to her trailer while she was expressing breast milk, arguing this would refute her harassment claims.
The lawsuits have impacted Baldoni’s career significantly. His agency, William Morris Endeavor, dropped him, and Liz Plank, co-host of his podcast Man Enough, resigned. In contrast, Lively has garnered support from her It Ends With Us co-stars Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and author Colleen Hoover.
Also Read: Partner 2 In Making? Sunita Ahuja Comments On Salman-Govinda Reunion!
While the legal battle intensifies, Lively continues to receive public and professional backing. Meanwhile, fans await further developments as the lawsuits head toward a potentially explosive courtroom showdown.
