Blake Lively Says She Couldn’t Host the ‘SNL’ Season 50 Opener Because of Justin Baldoni’s Smear Campaign

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Blake Lively has accused her ‘It Ends with Us’ co-star and director Justin Baldoni of behavior that led to her losing major professional opportunities, including hosting the season opener of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary. According to Lively, the fallout from Baldoni’s actions forced her to step away from public events and projects.

In a formal complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Lively claims the situation had an immediate and damaging effect on her career. “The effects on Ms. Lively’s professional life were immediate and substantial,” the complaint states.

It further explains that Lively felt unable to attend public appearances without being pressed to discuss the on-set issues. As a result, she canceled several key commitments, including hosting the September 2024 season premiere of SNL and a corporate event for her hair care brand with Target.

The filing also provides details about a January 2024 meeting where Lively and Baldoni discussed her return to filming after the Hollywood labor strikes. During the meeting, Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments about her weight, shared personal details about his sex life, and pressured her to reveal her religious beliefs.

Lively also alleges that Jamey Heath, a producer of the film and CEO of Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, showed her a video of his wife giving birth, adding to the discomfort.

Screenshots of text messages and emails included in the filing reveal that Baldoni and his team allegedly discussed launching a smear campaign against Lively if the issues between them became public.

The complaint paints a picture of escalating tensions and workplace misconduct that have taken a toll on Lively’s professional reputation and opportunities.

‘It Ends with Us’ received mixed reviews from critics (56% of 185 critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10), but was a box-office success, grossing $351 million worldwide against a $25 million budget.

What do you think? Whose side are you on? Let us know in the comments below.

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