Blake Lively Nixed ‘SNL’ Season 50 Premiere Hosting Gig Due To ‘It Ends With Us’ Smear Campaign

deadline.com:

In the sprawling lawsuit filed by Blake Lively over the weekend alleging It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her and coordinated a sweeping retaliatory smear campaign against her, the Gossip Girl alumna said among the fallout over the workplace misconduct was a canceled appearance as the Saturday Night Live Season 50 premiere host.

That task eventually went to Jean Smart, as the complaint states that the negative chatter about drama on set forced Lively’s hand, with the producer saying she “did not believe she could proceed with public appearances or events without being forced to openly discuss what happened on set.” “The effects on Ms.

Lively’s professional life were immediate and substantial,” the document reads, continuing, “For example, Ms. Lively cancelled a critical Target corporate event for her haircare company, and she backed out of her scheduled role to host the premier episode of the 50th anniversary season of Saturday Night Live in September 2024.” Filed Friday with the California Civil Rights Department, the suit alleges that Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, among others, engaged in a “sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation for Ms.

Lively exercising her legally-protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set.” The complaint details an all-hands meeting that kicked off the resuming of filming on the movie adaptation of the popular Colleen Hoover novel (about a relationship colored by domestic violence) following the guild strikes, in which Lively, husband and actor Ryan Reynolds and Baldoni were present to discuss the lattermost’s “disturbing behavior,” which included, but was not limited to, his addition of improvised