‘It Ends With Us’ studio Sony backs Blake Lively amid allegations against Justin Baldoni

Sony backs Blake Lively after allegations of harassment and retaliation against Justin Baldoni.

Sony Pictures has reaffirmed its support for actress Blake Lively following her allegations against director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign. In a statement to Variety, a Sony Pictures spokesperson stated, “We fully and firmly reiterate our support for Blake today. Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”

The allegations, first reported by The New York Times over the weekend, detail Lively’s claims that Baldoni created a toxic work environment and used social media to harm her reputation, causing severe emotional distress for her and her family. In response, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the claims as “categorically false” and called the complaint “shameful.”

Support for Lively has been growing steadily. Her It Ends With Us co-star Brandon Sklenar expressed solidarity by sharing her complaint on Instagram, urging followers to read it and tagging Lively with a supportive red heart emoji. Author Colleen Hoover, who penned the novel the film is based on, also stood by Lively, sharing a photo of them together and praising her honesty and kindness. “Never change. Never wilt,” Hoover wrote in her message.

SAG-AFTRA issued a statement applauding Lively’s courage and emphasizing the importance of safe working environments. “Employees have every right to raise issues of concern or file complaints. Retaliation is illegal and wrong,” the union said, noting its support for Lively’s request for an intimacy coordinator on set for scenes involving nudity or sexual content.

The allegations have had wider repercussions. Liz Plank, co-host of Baldoni’s Man Enough podcast, announced her departure on Monday, citing the need for accountability and promising to share more details soon. Meanwhile, Baldoni has been dropped as a client by WME, the same agency that represents Lively.

Support from Lively’s industry peers continues to pour in. Her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars, director Paul Feig, and others have publicly voiced their backing. Sony’s statement underscores the entertainment industry’s growing call for accountability and safe workplace practices.