During the production of the 2023 romantic drama It Ends With Us, Blake Lively was reportedly labeled a “f—ing terrorist” by Andrea Ange Giannetti, a senior Sony executive involved in the project. This comment surfaced amid tensions surrounding a harassment lawsuit filed by Lively. The actress raised concerns about director Justin Baldoni’s alleged misconduct on set, which contributed to a fractured working environment while filming in May 2023.
In a detailed deposition obtained by Fox News Digital, Giannetti recounted a lengthy five-hour meeting, where Lively insisted that several conditions be met before returning to film. These demands included a 17-point list of protections she considered necessary for her return after expressing unease about Baldoni’s behavior during filming.
Details of Blake Lively’s Demands and On-Set Tensions
Andrea Giannetti explained that the protections outlined by Lively were ultimately accepted because of the significant financial stakes involved.
“
because there was a tremendous amount of money that had been invested and spent, and we had to finish the movie or it was unreleasable.
”
Giannetti said.
During a deposition on September 23, Bryan Freedman, the lawyer representing Justin Baldoni, questioned Giannetti about Lively’s firm stance on the agreement. When asked if Lively threatened to leave the film without the unaltered 17-point list, Giannetti confirmed, “That’s my understanding,”. Freedman also directly asked if Giannetti had called Lively a “f—ing terrorist,” to which she replied affirmatively.
Conflicting Views on Allegations of Sexual Harassment
Lively’s harassment claims focused on multiple incidents involving Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath. However, Giannetti acknowledged that she only knew of three uncomfortable episodes on set: a video shown to Lively, an incident inside Lively’s trailer, and inappropriate comments made about actress Jenny Slate’s appearance. Despite these occurrences, Giannetti stated that she did not believe the situation warranted Human Resources involvement.
When pressed about the standards for reporting uncomfortable incidents on film sets, Giannetti commented,
“
I thought it was a s— show, and there was – those incidents alone were not reason to call HR for a movie that we were cofinancing and distributing.
”
During further questioning by Esra Hudson, Giannetti said, “
They didn’t like him.
” in reference to the discomfort some women reportedly felt about Baldoni. When asked if this meant she discounted their views, Giannetti repeated,
“
I heard of three incidents. You can ask me this a hundred times, I’m going to tell you the three incidents I know over and over again. The video, I saw the video. The trailer, we had a meeting in the trailer. It was resolved. And the director called Jenny Slate ‘hot’ in front of 300 people on set. Those were the three incidents. No, I did not think there was reason to call HR.
”
Lively’s Deposition Reveals Details of On-Set Allegations
Blake Lively’s deposition, given on July 31, shed light on a critical meeting that included Baldoni, Heath, and producer Alex Saks, in which she raised her concerns. Although Lively referred to her experiences as “HR claims” during the meeting, she described the behavior as falling under sexual harassment. She explained,
“
I don’t know what words I used because I wasn’t planning on addressing the HR issues with them directly in my trailer with Alex Saks in that moment,
”
before detailing the incidents that troubled her.
Specifically, Lively recalled discussions about Heath entering her trailer when she was uncomfortably exposed and the troubling video that was shown to her. She also mentioned her concerns about how Jenny Slate was treated, saying,
“
I remember discussing the video that Jamey showed me. I remember discussing the – Jamey entering my trailer. And I remember – I don’t know if I told him this or if this is another thing that Ange shared, but how bad it felt for him to tell me personally that I felt sex – that I looked sexy and that I looked hot, and that I was also disturbed by the way that I understood Jenny to be feeling and experiences I’d seen with her.
”
Despite framing the complaints as HR-related during the meeting, Lively maintained the incidents amounted to clear sexual harassment.
Legal Disputes and Accusations Between Lively and Baldoni
The conflict escalated as Justin Baldoni responded by accusing Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds of seizing control over the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s legal action, filed in January 2025, alleged that Lively falsely accused him of sexual misconduct in an effort to salvage her public image after the controversy sparked by the film’s promotional activities.
However, Baldoni’s lawsuit was dismissed, adding another complex layer to the ongoing battle between the actors and producers involved in the film.
Implications for Film Industry Accountability and Future Proceedings
This case highlights the challenges faced within high-profile film productions when allegations of harassment arise, especially involving influential figures in front of and behind the camera. Blake Lively’s insistence on protections and her allegations have sparked intense debate about how harassment claims are handled on sets and the responsibilities of executives like Giannetti in addressing discomfort reported by cast and crew.
The dismissive stance taken by some executives towards uncomfortable incidents raises questions about the sufficiency of current workplace protections in the entertainment industry. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome may influence future standards for reporting and addressing sexual harassment claims in film productions.
