New court documents reveal troubling allegations about what happened behind the scenes during filming of romantic drama “It Ends With Us.”
Blake Lively and multiple female cast members have come forward with serious concerns about director and co-star Justin Baldoni’s conduct on set.
The unsealed records paint a picture of a toxic work environment where boundaries were allegedly crossed repeatedly—and where speaking up had consequences.
Court documents unsealed Tuesday ahead of a key hearing reveal testimony from several women involved in the production, along with text messages that suggest deep discord between Lively and Baldoni.
Multiple Women Share Similar Experiences
Actress Jenny Slate, who portrayed Lively’s best friend in the film, testified that Baldoni made inappropriate comments about both Lively and herself during production.
According to Slate’s testimony, Baldoni called Lively “hot” and “sexy” in her presence. After Slate flagged these comments as inappropriate, Baldoni allegedly told Slate herself that she looked “sexy” in what she was wearing.
I assumed there was an understanding of — ‘We’re not doing this anymore. It’s not appropriate anymore. It never was appropriate, but it’s not appropriate in a workplace.
Slate didn’t hold back in private messages either, calling Baldoni a “narcissist” and “fraud” for cultivating a feminist persona while allegedly behaving inappropriately toward women on set.
Justin is truly a false ally and I’m unwilling to do anything that promotes the image that he’s crafting as a ‘male feminist’ … like … honestly i have no words to describe what a fraud he is.
Disturbing Comment During Intimate Scene Direction
Isabela Ferrer, who played the teenage version of Lively’s character, testified about an uncomfortable moment while filming a virginity loss scene between two young characters.
According to Ferrer’s testimony, Baldoni made an unsolicited remark while directing the scene.
I’m not supposed to say this, but that was hot.
Ferrer explained why the comment felt so inappropriate given the context.
It didn’t feel appropriate in a work environment, and given that it was not necessarily like a note of any kind to do with my acting. It felt out of place and strange to hear about a scene, especially a scene that is meant to be a PG scene about two young teenagers having a very like innocent experience intimately.
Lively’s Specific Allegations
Lively’s testimony detailed several incidents that made her uncomfortable during production.
She raised concerns about what she viewed as “gratuitous” sexual scenes Baldoni allegedly added to the film. During one conversation about whether to circumcise an infant character, Baldoni mentioned his own circumcision status—information Lively found deeply inappropriate.
In another instance, Lively described how Baldoni commented on her outfit in a way that felt more like a leer than professional feedback.
It wasn’t the moment he saw the outfit. It wasn’t until I bent down and the coat opened that I got the compliment on my outfit… I felt uncomfortable. I felt exposed. I felt humiliated. I felt ashamed.
Birth Scene Concerns
Perhaps most troubling was Lively’s account of filming a birth scene where she spent hours in stirrups while nearly nude.
She testified that she learned on set that day that the actor playing the OB/GYN was one of Baldoni’s personal friends—information she hadn’t been given beforehand.
I was extremely uncomfortable with the degree to which I was exposed during the Birth Scene, which felt violative and humiliating. I had to request a blanket to be given to me for privacy between takes, which was not always provided.
Creative Control Battle Over Final Cut
Beyond harassment allegations, court documents reveal significant creative conflicts between Lively and Baldoni about how the film should portray domestic violence and female empowerment.
According to her court declaration, Lively was so concerned about Baldoni’s vision that she created her own cut of the film. She stated that Baldoni’s version “marginalized the female characters” and “glorified the abuser” in ways that would upset female audiences.
This wasn’t just Lively’s concern. Author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the original book, testified that she feared the adaptation would become overly sexualized and lose its core message about female empowerment in domestic violence situations.
It’s fun sitting alone and reading detailed sex scenes to some people, but not many want to be in a theater watching them. Some of these movies that focus on romance think women want to watch sex, but they couldn’t be more wrong. We want to watch love and emotions and angst and buildup, and then using our imagination from there is fine.
Refusal to Promote Together
Lively refused to promote the film alongside Baldoni or producer Jamey Heath, whom she alleges retaliated against her for raising concerns.
They painted themselves as the victims and me as a bully. I was not willing to endorse Baldoni or Heath personally by appearing alongside or promoting the Film with them.
Legal Battle Ahead
Lively has sued Baldoni, along with producers and his publicists, for harassment and retaliation. A trial is scheduled for May 18.
Baldoni’s legal team filed a motion last fall to dismiss the case, arguing that Lively’s claims amount to “minor grievances.” His lawyers have also argued that Lively knew she would be appearing in a “sexually charged film with adult themes” and that her complaints don’t constitute harassment.
A hearing on that dismissal motion takes place Thursday. Judge Lewis Liman ordered both sides to release evidence ahead of the hearing—though only Lively’s documents have been unsealed so far.
Sigrid McCawley, member of Lively’s legal team, emphasized the breadth of testimony from multiple women.
The newly unsealed, damning documents show the consistent reaction numerous women, cast, crew, executives, partners, co-host and even his own PR team had working with Justin Baldoni. The evidence includes Ms. Lively’s own testimony describing the harassment she faced, as well as new evidence from numerous women describing their own disturbing experiences.
As more evidence emerges in coming days, this case highlights ongoing conversations about power dynamics, workplace conduct, and who controls narratives in Hollywood—particularly around stories centered on women’s experiences.