The setting is a lively bar, and director Justin Baldoni makes a cheeky comment about co-star Blake Lively looking “pretty hot.” Lively quickly clarifies that wasn’t her goal. Baldoni jokes he missed his sexual harassment training, but this light banter is part of a serious lawsuit Lively has filed against him and others from the film “It Ends With Us.”
This case is drawing a lot of media attention, but it’s more than just gossip. It’s a moment that challenges how we define acceptable behavior in Hollywood. The lawsuit could shape new standards for conduct on set.
In 2006, a similar case saw creative freedom triumph. The California Supreme Court dismissed claims about inappropriate sexual dialogue in the “Friends” writers’ room. At that time, Hollywood rallied behind the writers, emphasizing that such talk was a vital part of the creative process. But opinions about Lively’s suit are divided, often coming down to personal loyalties. Baldoni’s defense even references the “Friends” case to argue that some sexual discussions are part of making a film with adult themes. However, the cultural landscape has shifted since then.
Amaani Lyle, a previous writers’ assistant who brought her own suit, believes if her case had occurred after the #MeToo movement, the result might have been different. “My case was ahead of its time,” she remarked. The environment Lyle described—a place where graphic conversations about women and sexuality were routine—feels out of step with today’s expectations.
Back in 2006, such behavior was somewhat tolerated as part of the creative arts. The Writers Guild of America defended it, stating creative discussions shouldn’t be scrutinized by outside observers. They argued against the idea that juries should determine what’s acceptable in a writers’ room.
Yet, Lyle felt much of that behavior crossed a line. Although Warner Bros. claimed a zero-tolerance policy on harassment, Lyle’s experience showed a different reality, where the interpretation of that policy seemed flexible.
Fast forward to the current situation with “It Ends With Us.” The production company, Wayfarer Studios, has a strict policy against sexual comments and harassment. Baldoni, as co-chair of Wayfarer, participated in HR training discussing this policy. Lively’s attorneys argue Baldoni breached this policy by oversharing personal details and pushing for intimate scenes against her comfort.
Lively reached her limit when Wayfarer’s CEO showed her a graphic video unrelated to their work. In her deposition, she stated, “Those actions are clearly sexual harassment.”
However, proving harassment can be challenging. The legal bar is set high—misconduct must be “severe or pervasive” enough to alter one’s work environment. The California courts ruled that the conduct in the “Friends” case fell below this threshold. So, Judge Lewis Liman must consider whether Lively’s experience meets that standard, a complex task given the nuances of each situation.
Text messages released in court reveal Baldoni’s confusion and distress over the allegations, attributing some misunderstandings to his neurodivergence. Yet, workplace culture has evolved, with many employers preferring to settle cases rather than let them go to trial. Jared Slater, a legal expert, noted, “Employers don’t want to gamble with a jury.”
Interestingly, Lyle has long moved on from the industry, serving in the U.S. Air Force. She saw “It Ends With Us” and appreciated it but refrained from taking sides in the current dispute. She pointed out a significant disparity: “They have more leverage than I did as a woman of color at the bottom of the hierarchy.”
The outcome of Lively’s case remains uncertain, but it could reshape conversations around workplace behavior in Hollywood, much like cases before it carved out new norms. As society evolves, so too must the standards we hold for conduct in the creative industries.
Source link
Amaani Lyle,Blake Lively,Friends,Justin Baldoni
