Justin Baldoni is pushing back against Blake Lively’s claims of sexual harassment 

and retaliation, alleging that her decision to file a civil rights complaint instead of a lawsuit was a strategic move. 

The controversy between the two actors, who worked together on It Ends With Us, has escalated, with both sides taking legal action.

Lively’s Complaint Against Baldoni

On December 21, 2023, Lively, 37, submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) 

accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of the bestselling Colleen Hoover novel. 

She further alleged that after voicing her concerns, Baldoni, along with a crisis PR team, launched a campaign to damage her career.

Rather than filing an immediate lawsuit, Lively chose to submit the complaint to the CRD, which investigates workplace discrimination and harassment. According to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, this process is often a precursor to filing a lawsuit, but it is not a required step.

“Before you file a sexual harassment lawsuit in California, you have to file a complaint with the CRD and obtain a right-to-sue letter,” Rahmani explained. “However, filing a complaint does not necessarily mean a lawsuit will follow. Some individuals choose to rely on the CRD’s internal investigation process instead.”

Baldoni, 41, claims Lively’s decision to take this route was intentional and aimed at damaging his reputation.

Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit and Public Response

In response to Lively’s allegations, Baldoni launched a website containing an amended version of his $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The lawsuit, which was first filed after Lively’s complaint, outlines a timeline of events and disputes her claims of harassment.

In the lawsuit, Baldoni states, “Lively never intended to file a civil lawsuit, which would have triggered the Wayfarer Parties’ right to discovery, including obtaining evidence and deposing Lively under oath.” He further alleges that Lively collaborated with The New York Times to craft a damaging public narrative.

“Make no mistake: these actions were deliberate,” Baldoni asserts.

His claims suggest that Lively strategically filed the complaint to avoid the legal scrutiny that a lawsuit would entail while maximizing public sympathy through media coverage.

Legal Experts Weigh In

Celebrity attorney Christopher C. Melcher supports Baldoni’s argument, explaining that Lively’s approach prevented Baldoni from taking immediate legal action to counter her claims.

“Because it was just a request for the government to investigate and not a lawsuit against Baldoni, he had no right to subpoena witnesses or force Blake or Ryan to sit for a deposition,” Melcher told Fox News Digital.

Melcher further speculated that Lively may have leaked details of her complaint to the media to control the public narrative while avoiding legal accountability.

“This ‘never intended’ is the code word for him saying that the leaks to the press are not covered by this litigation privilege because they were not made in the context of a lawsuit, and so that’s what gives him the right to sue,” Melcher explained.

The Escalation of Legal Battles

Following the initial complaint and the defamation lawsuit, Lively filed a federal lawsuit on December 31, shortly after Baldoni had already taken legal action against The New York Times for its reporting on the situation.

In her federal suit, Lively accused Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and several associates of orchestrating a “carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others, from speaking out.” Her legal team insisted that nothing in Baldoni’s lawsuit discredited the claims made in her CRD complaint or her federal filing.

Meanwhile, Baldoni remains firm in his stance that Lively’s actions were calculated. His lawsuit against The New York Times alleges that the publication’s coverage contained “inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions,” further fueling his argument that Lively’s allegations were part of a media-driven attack.

The Court of Public Opinion

With both actors entrenched in legal disputes, some experts believe the battle is as much about public perception as it is about legal outcomes.

“Lively may have been trying to scare Baldoni with the CRD complaint or send him a message,” Rahmani noted. “The communications between Lively and her publicists will be very revealing. Was this just a PR move that backfired, or was it really the precursor to filing a lawsuit?”

As the situation unfolds, the public and legal analysts alike are closely watching how the courts—and the entertainment industry—respond. What began as an on-set feud has spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle, with both Lively and Baldoni fighting to protect their reputations and careers.

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