You may have caught wind of the news surrounding the film It Ends with Us. After Blake Lively filed a complaint accusing director Justin Baldoni of misconduct during production, Stephanie Jones (Baldoni’s former publicist) filed a separate lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging breach of contract and involvement in a smear campaign against Lively.
More recently, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against Lively (as well as Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane), alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy, stemming from production disputes and film promotion.
Business Takeaway: There is certainly more that will come to light, as this back-and-forth continues. Looking past the high-society drama of it all, we’re reminded of the various complexities of workplace dynamics. In this case, it is all compounded by an industry that involves unique and complicated dynamics of its own (e.g., dramatic plot lines, intimate scenes). Contact us at 414-446-8800 or info@goldsteinsc.com if you would like to revisit or revise your protocols for reporting and investigating harassment.