Why did Blake Lively bring Ryan Reynolds to Justin Baldoni 'sexual harassment meeting'?
1. Blake Lively brought Ryan Reynolds to ‘meeting' with ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively has revealed new details in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni, explaining her decision to involve her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in a January 4 meeting addressing allegations of misconduct.
The meeting was central to Lively’s claims against Baldoni, whom she accuses of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic work environment during the production of It Ends With Us, a film he directed and co-starred in alongside her.
In her initial lawsuit, filed on December 20, Lively accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath of creating a hostile workplace. Her New Year’s Eve filing expanded on these allegations, justifying her decision to have Reynolds present at the meeting.
According to Lively’s latest legal filing, Reynolds attended the meeting as her representative, a choice she asserted was within her legal rights.
“Ms. Lively also had the agreed-upon right to have a representative present,” the filing states. “She chose her husband, given that the meeting was about repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior by Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath.”
The meeting, described by Lively as an “all-hands” gathering to address workplace issues, reportedly included Baldoni, Heath, and other members of the production team.
However, Baldoni’s version of events starkly contrasts Lively’s. In his $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times—filed on the same day as Lively’s New Year’s Eve complaint—Baldoni claims he was “blindsided” by Lively and Reynolds.
Baldoni alleges the meeting took place at the couple’s New York penthouse and was a “traumatic” confrontation. His lawsuit claims Reynolds “berated” him with accusations, including “fat shaming” Lively.
“Reynolds launched into a tirade, berating Baldoni in what Baldoni later described as a ‘traumatic’ encounter, stating he had ‘never been spoken to like that in his life,’” the lawsuit states.
Baldoni further alleges that the meeting, originally intended to discuss upcoming filming, devolved into a heated exchange of grievances.
Lively and Reynolds, married for over a decade and parents to four children, are regarded as one of Hollywood’s most prominent power couples. Their strong partnership has been a central part of Lively’s response to the alleged incidents on set.
