Washington: Actor Justin Baldoni has been dropped by WME talent agency following sexual harassment allegations by his co-star and actress Blake Lively.
WME leadership made the decision Saturday morning after Baldoni’s It End’s With Us co-star and fellow producer Lively filed a complaint of sexual harassment and retaliation late Friday night, according to a report from Deadline.
Lively remains a client of WME. Most of the details of the case are still unknown.
As TMZ reports, the lawsuit comes months after rumors of tension on the set of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel. In the lawsuit filed by Lively, 37, she alleges multiple instances of inappropriate behavior by Baldoni during the production of the film.
According to Deadline, Lively cited incidents including inappropriate comments about weight, discussions of sexual topics, and references to Baldoni’s “pornography addiction” in front of her and other cast members. She also alleged that Baldoni showed her explicit photos and made inappropriate comments about the genitals of the cast and crew.
The lawsuit also claims that Lively demanded certain boundaries during a meeting that included prominent people, including her husband Ryan Reynolds. The demands reportedly included: “No more nude videos or pictures of Blake,” “No more sex scenes added outside of the approved script,” and “No further comments about Blake’s late father.”
TMZ reports that Sony Pictures, the film’s distributor, agreed to Lively’s requests. However, Lively alleged in the lawsuit that Baldoni later launched a “social manipulation” campaign to damage her reputation.
Also read: Blake Lively sues ‘It End’s With Us’ co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment
In response, Baldoni’s attorney, Brian Friedman, released a statement to People, calling Lively’s allegations “false, defamatory, and intentionally scandalous.” Friedman also accused Lively of being “difficult” on set, claiming that she threatened not to show up to shoot or promote the film, which allegedly affected its release.
Representatives for Lively, Baldoni and Sony have not commented on the allegations.
The film It Ends with Us tells the story of Lily, played by Lively, who falls in love with Ryle, played by Baldoni, but later discovers that he is abusive. The film traces her emotional journey as her first love reappears and her life is thrown into turmoil.