Sony Breaks Silence on Blake Lively Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni

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

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

Hours earlier, the Screen Actors Guild – the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists also spoke out against the “alarming and disturbing allegations” in a statement to Closing datestating that they “approve” of Lively’s courage to speak out on issues of retaliation and harassment and for a 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 spokesman for the guild 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 the right to be treated with dignity and respect on the job and to work in an environment free from harassment, discrimination and retaliation.”

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

The documents, obtained by Us Weekly after he first reported by TMZ a The New York Timesthat a meeting was held during the film’s production in January to address Lively’s claims against her costar which included “no more showing Blake nude videos or images of women, no more talking about the alleged history of Baldoni”pornography addiction” no more discussions of sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no more talk 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 UsBaldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively’s claims “absolutely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” claiming she filed the lawsuit to “repair her negative reputation” and “remake a narrative” about the film’s production. He claimed that Lively made “multiple demands and threats,” which included “threatening not to show up to set, threatening not to promote the film, ultimately leading to her demise during its release, if her requirements are met.”

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

Freedman also claimed that the texts were taken out of context. “The standard scenario planning drafted by TAG PR was unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour extremely surprising, and responded organically to what the media themselves had notice it,” he continued. “It is ironic that the New York Timesthrough their effort to ‘uncover’ a stealth PR effortplayed directly into the hands of Lively’s own questionable PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges without critical context—the very tactics she accuses the company of employing.”

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

Lively and costar Baldoni Brandon Sklenar also came to the A Simple Favor star protection, share the NOW 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, which also represents Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Her podcast host “Man Digon”, Liz Plankalso announced her departure on Monday along with women’s non-profit Vital Voices rescinding their Voices of Unity Award, presented to Baldoni just last week.