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‘It Ends With Us’ Studio Supports Blake Lively Amid Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

Brandon Sklenar Supports It Ends With Us Costar Blake Lively Amid Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni 674

It Ends With Us studio Sony Pictures and SAG-AFTRA have released statements in support of Blake Lively amid her allegations accusing costar and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

“We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today,” a spokesperson for Sony told Variety in a Monday, December 23, statement. “Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”

Hours earlier, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artist also spoke out against the “startling and troubling allegations” in a statement to Deadline, noting that they “applaud” Lively’s “courage in speaking out on issues of retaliation and harassment and for er 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,” a guild spokesperson told the outlet on Monday. “Employees have every right to raise issues of concern or to file complaints. Retaliation for reporting misconduct or inappropriate behavior is illegal and wrong. 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.”

Blake Lively Sues It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment

Lively, 37, filed the complaint against Baldoni, 40, on Friday, December 20, claiming he created a “hostile work environment” on the It Ends With Us set and caused the Gossip Girl alum “severe emotional distress.” The lawsuit additionally claimed that Baldoni and his team had launched a “social manipulation” campaign against Lively to damage her reputation.

The documents, obtained by Us Weekly after it first reported by TMZ and The New York Times, stated that a meeting was held during the film’s production in January to address Lively’s claims against her costar that included  “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous “pornography addiction” no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Baldoni, for his part, has vehemently denied the allegations against him. In a statement to Us, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively’s claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” alleging she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production. He claimed Lively made “multiple demands and threats,” which included “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

Justin Baldoni s Fallout Following Blake Lively s Lawsuit Everything He s Lost Since 664

As for Lively’s smear campaign allegations — which included text messages from Baldoni and his team — Freedman told Us The Agency Group PR, which was hired by Baldoni and is one of several firms named in the lawsuit, “operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources.”

Freedman also claimed that the texts were taken out of context. “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on,” he continued. “It’s ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing.”

Sony and SAG-AFTRA are just the latest to speak out in support of Lively. It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover took to social media on Saturday, December 21, to praise Lively for being nothing but being “honest, kind, supportive and patient from day one.”

Blake Lively Claims Another Cast Member Complained About Justin Baldoni

Lively and Baldoni’s costar Brandon Sklenar also came to the Simple Favor star’s defense, sharing the NYT story about the allegations via his Instagram Story on Monday.  “For the love of god read this,” he wrote with a link to the article, tagging Lively and adding a red heart emoji.

Baldoni, meanwhile, has been dropped by his agency WME, who also represent Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. His “Man Enough” podcast host, Liz Plank, also announced her exit on Monday along with women’s non-profit Vital Voices rescinding their Voices of Solidarity Award, which Baldoni was presented with just last week.

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel’s Relationship Timeline

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel Relationship Timeline

Following his split from Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi in March 2019, Johnny Manziel found love again with Josie Canseco.

In April 2024, Manziel and Canseco sparked romance rumors when she shared a photo of her resting her feet on a mysterious man’s legs while on an airplane. Although his face was not visible in the shot, fans noticed Manziel’s recognizable hand tattoos in the pic.

Later that month, the couple confirmed their romance when they took to their respective Instagram Stories to share photos featuring the couple in a close embrace at Stagecoach in Indio, California.

Less than three months later, Canseco couldn’t help but gush about her relationship with Manziel.

Selling Sunset’s Bre Tiesi and QB Johnny Manziel’s Relationship Timeline

“I like to make fun of him from time to time because I do get the princess treatment, and he takes such good care of me,” she told Us Weekly in July 2024. “I come home for a long day, and he’ll rub my back and give me so much love. He takes such good care of me. I couldn’t have asked for any better right now.”

Keep scrolling to learn more about Manziel and Canseco’s relationship:

April 2024

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel Relationship Timeline

After sparking romance rumors, Manziel and Canseco confirmed their relationship when they shared photos of themselves via Instagram Stories enjoying a close embrace at Stagecoach.

May 2024

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel Relationship Timeline

Canseco took to social media to share a photo of her dog and a selfie of her and Manziel.

“A little family :),” she captioned her Instagram post.

Selling Sunset's Bre, Johnny Manziel Roast Each Other Amid Onscreen Reunion

July 2024

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel Relationship Timeline

Canseco couldn’t help but gush about her “sweet Texas boy.”

“He is close with his family and his mom and his sister and her little ones,” she told Us. “I just went to Texas to meet them recently. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming and to see that he has such an amazing family made me feel so comfortable.”

She noted that Manziel “takes such good care of her.”

“I couldn’t have asked for any better right now,” she added.

As for why she wants to keep her relationship off social media, Canseco explained that she likes “to take control of the narrative if possible.”

Selling Sunset’s Bre Tiesi’s Ups and Downs Go Beyond Toxic Workplace Claims

“I also think there’s a lot of beauty in keeping my relationship personal and between us,” she told Us. “I have nothing to hide, but at the same time I think it’s going to be healthy for us to grow together to be the people we want to be if it’s not all publicized.”

September 2024

Canseco called her connection with Manziel “easy and organic” before referring to the former football player as her “best friend.”

“We have the same sense of humor, we have the same values and he’s changing and growing into such an incredible young man that I’m just really happy to be with him,” she gushed to Us. “We talk about everything. I think we’re going to grow a little bit together and individually and get to a place where we both feel like that’s right.”

October 2024

Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel Relationship Timeline

Canseco and Manziel dressed as Carl and Russell from Disney’s Up for a Halloween event in Los Angeles.

December 2024

In a since-deleted Instagram story video that Canseco posted in celebration of Manziel’s 32nd birthday, the couple was seen sitting in a bathtub together, seemingly nude, as Manziel washed his girlfriend’s hair.

“A love like you,” Canseco wrote alongside the video. “My best friend and my forever. I’m so proud of the man you’ve grown into. You are the kindest heart I’ve ever met. How’d I get so lucky ++ happy birthday my baby @imanziel2.”

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