In December 2024, actress Blake Lively took the unusual step of making public her complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Division (CRD). The complaint alleges sexual harassment and retaliation by her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, during the production of their latest film, "It Ends With Us." Lively shared this typically private document with the New York Times.
Chicago-Kent College of Law Visiting Associate Professor Andrew Ziaja commented on the case's complexity. “It’s actually a bit remarkable to be able to break down the legalities in a case like this,” he said. He noted that CRD complaints are not usually available to the public due to concerns about potential retaliation against victims of sexual harassment.
Ziaja, who also serves as interim director of Chicago-Kent’s Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace, highlighted significant allegations within Lively's complaint. “Lively alleges a wide range of pretty unseemly conduct on the part of Baldoni," he said. A notable claim involves being denied accommodations as a lactating mother, an issue prioritized by federal and local governments recently.
In response, Baldoni has filed lawsuits against both Lively and the New York Times for defamation and reputational damage.
The CRD will investigate Lively's claims, potentially mediating a settlement or allowing her to file her own lawsuit if it chooses not to pursue one itself. Ziaja suggested that Lively's legal representation indicates she may be preparing for independent legal action.
Ziaja believes this case could end in a settlement but might influence broader perceptions about workplace safety for women, especially lactating mothers. “Cases like this can signal where the culture has moved on bigger questions of equality and acceptable behavior that translate across work settings,” he remarked. He described it as a "test case" likely resonating deeply due to its implications.