SAG-AFTRA, the union representing roughly 160,000 actors in Hollywood, is voicing its support of Blake Lively after she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director on “It Ends With Us.”
“These are startling and troubling allegations. Employees have every right to raise issues of concern or to file complaints. Retaliation for reporting misconduct or inappropriate behavior is illegal and wrong,” the organization said in a statement. “We applaud Blake Lively’s courage in speaking out on issues of retaliation and harassment and for her request to have an intimacy coordinator for all scenes with nudity or sexual content. This is an important step that helps ensure a safe set.”
Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that Lively filed a complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, fostering a toxic work environment and trying to tarnish her reputation with a targeted smear campaign on social media. Lively alleges that Baldoni’s behavior caused her and her family “severe emotional harm.” Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively’s complaint “shameful” and full of “categorically false accusations.”
According to the complaint, a meeting was held in January to address Lively’s concerns about returning to set after the actor and writer strikes, which paused production of “It Ends With Us.” At that meeting, Lively complained that Baldoni had discussed her weight with her trainer, pressed her to disclose her religious beliefs and talked about his sex life in inappropriate ways.
Lively also alleged that both Baldoni and Jamey Heath, one of the producers of the film and the CEO of Wayfarer Studios, entered her makeup trailer without getting her permission first, “including when she was breastfeeding her infant child.” The suit says “the concerns [Lively] raised were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up.”
SAG-AFTRA urges others who may be experiencing abusive conduct to report such violations to the organization and their employer. “We all have a right to be treated with dignity and respect on the job and to work in an environment free of harassment, discrimination and retaliation,” the group added.
