The ongoing drama in Hollywood has captivated global attention. It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also directed the movie, are at the center of controversy as Lively alleges Baldoni sexually harassed her and attempted to tarnish her reputation. This dispute has dominated headlines in recent days, and the situation intensified when Sony Pictures, producers of It Ends With Us, publicly voiced their support for Blake Lively. Sony Pictures Supports Blake Lively Sony Pictures issued a statement expressing their backing for Blake Lively in her conflict with Justin Baldoni. The production house strongly condemned any reputational attacks on her and reiterated their full support for the Age of Adaline actor. Hollywood personalities such as Amber Heard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer, Colleen Hoover, and co-star Brandon Sklenar have also shown support for Lively. A report by Variety quoted a Sony Pictures Entertainment spokesperson saying: “We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today. Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society." Details of the Lawsuit According to the lawsuit, cited by TMZ, a meeting was held by the production team to address Blake Lively’s demands related to her role in the movie. This meeting included her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The demands were as follows: No more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake. No further mentions of Baldoni's alleged pornography addiction. No discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others. No references to cast and crew's genitalia. No inquiries about Blake's weight. No further mentions of Blake's deceased father. No additional sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing outside the scope of the approved script. The lawsuit claims that Sony agreed to these demands, but Justin Baldoni allegedly launched a "social manipulation" campaign to ruin Lively’s reputation soon after. Justin Baldoni’s Defense Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the lawsuit, describing it as an attempt to "fix [Lively’s] negative reputation." He labeled the allegations "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious, designed to publicly harm" Baldoni. Freedman also accused Lively of creating issues on set, claiming she threatened not to show up, refused to promote the film, and contributed to its poor reception. Background on the Controversy It Ends With Us, adapted from Colleen Hoover's novel, has been embroiled in controversy since earlier this year. Reports surfaced alleging Baldoni’s behavior on set was borderline abusive, fostering a toxic work environment. Neither Baldoni nor Lively has made a direct statement about the ongoing dispute.
24 December,2024 10:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBlake Lively shook the entertainment world earlier this week by filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Now, actress Amber Heard who was in the center of a very public trial with ex-spouse Johnny Depp has come in support of Lively. In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during the making of the film and for orchestrating a smear campaign against her to tarnish her reputation in public. Heard's reaction comes after it was noted that Baldoni hired the same crisis PR team as Johnny Depp. In a statement given to NBC News, Amber Heard said, "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on'. I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” In the defamation trial fought between Heard and Depp, the former lost the case. Depp won the case and was awarded $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. Heard, who was awarded 2 million dollars in compensatory damages, now lives in Spain and has almost broken all ties with Hollywood. Blake Lively's complaint against Justin Baldoni The lawsuit, cited by TMZ, says there was a meeting held by the team to address Blake Lively’s demands to work in the movie. This meeting was also attended by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. Some of the demands that were addressed, according to the lawsuit, included "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous 'pornography addiction,' no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight, and no further mention of Blake's dead father." "No more adding of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by BL outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project" were also the demands mentioned in the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively. The lawsuit confirms that Sony, who produced the movie, agreed to the demand, but Justin Baldoni soon became part of a "social manipulation" campaign to "destroy" her reputation soon after. Justin Baldoni's rep reacts to Amber Heard's statement Bryan Freedman who is representing Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios called Lively's complaint categorically false accusation. Responding to Heard with a statement provided to Variety, Freedman said, "TAG PR operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources. The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on. It’s ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to “uncover” an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context — the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing.” Women come in support of Lively 'It Ends With Us' author Colleen Hoover also spoke in support of Lively. “You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Hoover wrote, sharing a picture of her and Lively hugging. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt," she noted. Lively’s 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel issued a statement extending their support: “Throughout the filming of ‘It Ends with Us,’ we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.”
24 December,2024 09:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor and film producer Cate Blanchett has supported the reopening of the Metropolis Cinema in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "This is a remarkable achievement, and I extend my congratulations to everyone involved in the opening of the Metropolis Cinema in the heart of Beirut," Blanchett said in a message read at the official opening ceremony in the city's Mar Mikhael district. "Not only will it be a space where Lebanese cinema can flourish and new voices can emerge, but in these deeply tragic, heartbreaking and bewildering times, this venue in Mar Mikhael stands as a testament to the resilience and cultural revival bringing stories to life and uniting the community," she added. The 18-year-old cinema had to halt operations during Lebanon's economic crisis of 2019. Then, the massive devastation of Beirut's port blast in 2020 unleashed a shock wave explosion that destroyed the cinema complex in the city's nightlife district, as per The Hollywood Reporter. More recently, the official reopening of the Metropolis Cinema was postponed from early October to this weekend due to the ongoing conflict between the Israeli and Hezbollah armies in Lebanon. As part of a major cultural centre in Beirut, the new location in Mar Mikhael has two indoor theatres, an outdoor theatre, and a green space with a cafe that is ready to accommodate moviegoers, artists, and film professionals. Capernaum director Nadine Labaki, who is Lebanese and Canadian, added in her statement read at the official opening, "We all know that we need a space like this more than ever given the current circumstances. What's happening is proof that Lebanon hasn't lose its spirit, and this hall isn't just a movie theatre, it's also a refuge for many dreams, aspirations and ideas. It's wonderful to see that despite everything, there are still people who dare to sow beauty, art and culture," according to The Hollywood Reporter. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:12 AM IST | Washington | ANIActress Zoe Saldana, best known for her iconic roles in Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, spoke about Star Trek 4 and the upcoming science fiction film Avatar: Fire and Ash. Saldana discussed the sequel to Star Trek Beyond, directed by Justin Lin, which was released in 2016. "I wish we were able to do it sooner rather than later. I feel like a lot of us have a full head of grey hair, so we need to do this quickly if this is the same cast that's going to reprise it again," Deadline reported. She expressed hope for the project, saying, "It's been a minute since I reconnected with Star Trek and all the characters' journeys." The star also shared insights into the latest instalment of the Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed and co-written by James Cameron. Saldana will reprise her role as Neytiri, opposite Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, a former marine who chose to remain in her alien world after they fell in love, Deadline reported. Saldana reflected on the storyline: "The way that we left the Sully family, they're mourning heavily the loss of their child. So I do believe that that will carry out a great deal in the third installment of Avatar. Jake and Neytiri are on this journey of acceptance--accepting who they are, what they must be for each other, and how they're going to push forward to keep their family safe. I love the fact that at the core of this entire saga is a beautiful love story, and I love that Jim really wrote that for them. But it's not going to be easy. They're not always going to see eye to eye, and I just hope that they keep each other safe. That's my hope for them." Saldana was recently seen in the second season of Paramount+'s hit series Special Ops: Lioness, created by Taylor Sheridan, where she stars as Joe, a CIA operative who recruits women as undercover spies, Deadline reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:08 AM IST | Washington | ANIThe Cuban-American actress Ana de Armas is currently in talks for a secret part in the upcoming superhero movie ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) blockbuster will bookend the multiverse saga when it hits theatres in 2026, and it's now rumoured the actress, who previously starred in James Bond film 'No Time To Die', is in negotiations for the movie, reports ‘Female First UK’. While Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman suggested de Armas may join ‘Doomsday’, he did not confirm which role she was supposedly in negotiations for. This comes after ‘TheWrap’ reported Chris Evans, who played Captain America from ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ in 2011 to ‘Avengers: Endgame’ eight years later, was also in contention to appear in ‘Doomsday’. However, the outlet did not confirm which character Evans would be portraying after the 43-year-old actor appeared as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, in ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’. As per ‘Female First UK’, apart from Ana de Armas and Evans, it has been officially confirmed that Hayley Atwell and Anthony Mackie would be reprising their respective roles of Agent Peggy Carter and Sam Wilson, while Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are also slated to appear in the movie. ‘Avengers Doomsday’ will also see the return of ‘Iron Man’ star Robert Downey Jr., who portrayed the character from the 2008 eponymous flick until 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’, as the villainous Doctor Doom. The 59-year-old actor, who was revealed to be playing the antagonist at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, detailed how Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige first pitched the role to him and his wife Susan Downey. Speaking on ‘The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter’ podcast, Robert said, “Susan and I were sitting down with Feige at one point, and he said, 'It just keeps occurring to me that, if you were to come back’. And Susan was like, ‘Wait, wait, come back as what?’ And then we both realized, over time, that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy”. He further mentioned, “(Kevin Feige is) a very sophisticated, creative thinker about, ‘How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations?’ And he brought up Victor von Doom, and I looked into (the0 character, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ And later on, he goes, ‘Let's get Victor von Doom right. Let's get that right’”. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and its sequel ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ will be helmed by the directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo, who had made both ‘Endgame’ and ‘Infinity War’, as well as ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ and its follow-up ‘Civil War’. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 December,2024 08:02 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSNe-Yo’s new single Worth your time: Yes If you’ve grown up with an appetite for Ne-Yo’s songs from the 2000s, namely Miss independent, One in a million, and So sick, the Arkansas singer-songwriter’s first single since June is certain to keep you addicted for a while. Show me has the singer deliver an intimate and sexual number that’s enjoyable and lyrical. The song may not instantly stand out for its melody, like Ne-Yo’s past numbers, including Closer, and Hate that I love you do, and it may take a while before his quintessential melodic voice takes charge in this track, but the number still emerges as among the finer romantic songs from this season. However, it is yet to be determined how well this mid-tempo track performs amid the ongoing festive holidays. Today in music December 23, 2008: A spokesman for Michael Jackson denied reports the singer was suffering from a rare respiratory disease and was in need of a lung transplant
23 December,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamActress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni recently alleging sexual harassment. Following this, the latter has been ousted from his talent management agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME). WME has severed ties with Justin following the explosive lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. WME expels Justin Baldoni following Blake Lively's lawsuit According to Deadline, the decision was made due to the extreme accusations in Blake Lively's complaint. Lively claimed intrusive behaviour to smear campaign in her lawsuit. The agency has yet not issued any official statement confirming the same. On the contrary, Baldoni's legal team has strongly denied these claims and has called them, "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." As of Saturday, December 21, Justin Baldoni, the American actor and filmmaker is no longer a client of WME. His 'It Ends With Us' co-star Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment among other accusations. The lawsuit targets prominent figures from the production house also including lead producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer co-owner Steve Sarowitz, and several others. Blake's lawyers have presented text messages between PR professionals Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel which includes one message where they seem to flex the success of their campaign to discredit Blake Lively. The attorneys have obtained messages through subpoena. Blake Lively accuses co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment According to sources, the row between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is not new. It emerged on the sets of 'It Ends With Us'. The failure of the film and being the center of controversies before its release fuelled up their fight. Baldoni's team blames Blake Lively for the film's failure. This comes after the Gossip Girl has filed an 80-page lawsuit against the 'It Ends With Us' director. In the complaint, Lively accused Justin created a "hostile work environment" on the sets of the film, including instances of “unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, and attempts to control her appearance.” She further adds that the director's team tried to discredit Lively in the public eye after she pointed out his unacceptable behaviour. Lively also mentions ‘intrusive behaviour on set including digging into Lively’s personal life with husband Ryan Reynolds’ and alleged that Baldoni intentionally "improvised" kisses and other sexual scenes and added "unnecessary intimate scenes". She also mentioned that the director made several sexually charged and inappropriate comments.
22 December,2024 10:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Tabu's role as Sister Francesca in the web series 'Dune: Prophecy' has been praised by fans and critics alike. Behind the scenes, her co-star Josh Heuston, who plays her on-screen son Constantine Corrino, opened up about their off-screen bond, crediting Tabu for helping him connect with his character and bringing warmth to their relationship. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max (@streamonmax) In a video shared by Max on Instagram, Josh called Tabu a queen while reminiscing about their time together on set. He said, "Tabu used to, like, hang out with me at the front of the trailer. And she'd bring me, like, authentic Indian dishes to set every day. So we kind of built a little bit of rapport because she kept me alive and fed me." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Josh Heuston (@jheuston) Just a couple of days back, Josh shared behind-the-scenes photos on social media, including a candid picture with Tabu, which received love from fans. The series, set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune films, explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit, blending politics, power, and prophecy. 'In Dune: Prophecy', Tabu plays Sister Francesca, a powerful Bene Gesserit and former lover of Emperor Javicco Corrino, portrayed by Mark Strong. The series also explores the past of her character, with Charithra Chandran playing a younger Francesca. Josh Heuston's Constantine is the illegitimate son of Francesca and the Emperor. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:35 AM IST | Washington | ANINetflix recently announced that the production of Stranger Things season five has officially wrapped. The cast of the film became teary-eyed as their journey for the final season of 'Stranger Things' came to an end. The co-creator Ross Duffer took to his Instagram handle to share his experience and the relations built between crew members, as per the report of The Hollywood Reporter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ross Duffer (@rossduffer) "We've been telling this story for nearly a decade now. Many of our cast members joined us when they were kids, just ten or eleven years old. It wasn't just a show for them--it was a defining part of their childhood. They've grown up before our eyes, becoming more than actors--they've become family." He further talked about the crew members who played prominent roles in the making of the series. "But it's not just the cast we consider family. Our crew--many of whom have been with us from the very beginning--holds a special place in our hearts. Their dedication and passion have been the backbone of this journey." adds co-creator Ross Duffer. Duffer wasn't the only Stranger Things team member to take to social media and share thoughts after filming had ended. Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, also posted a bunch of photos on Instagram with a lengthy caption, reflecting on his time as one of the show's main characters. "Two days ago, I wrapped my final scene as Will Byers, and I'm feeling very emotional," he began. "As I close this chapter of my life, I can't help but be forever grateful for the incredible people that I've met and valuable life/career lessons I learned through this decade's journey." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noah Schnapp (@noahschnapp) He then went on to share the top 10 things he learned from the crew and his fellow castmembers, including Shawn Levy, the Duffer brothers, Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink and Charlie Heaton. Stranger Things season 5 will stream next year on Netflix. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:33 AM IST | Washington | ANIComedy superstars Jack Black and Paul Rudd are teaming up for a Christmas treat with their upcoming film Anaconda, a blend of horror and comedy, set to hit theatres during the festive season of 2025. The duo took to Instagram to announce the release date, accompanied by a humorous video featuring Black and Rudd exchanging hugs and cracking jokes. "Hey, what's up, people? We're making a movie! Paul Rudd and Jack Black star in The Anaconda. There's gonna be a big fu**ing snake, and it's gonna rip!" Jack said in the video. Paul Rudd added with his trademark humour, "You wanna get scared. You wanna laugh. You wanna celebrate with your friends. Or maybe you're alone, feeling sad, but just want to forget about that. The Anaconda is coming out on Christmas 2025." Check out the fun video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anaconda Movie (@theanacondamovie) The film will be directed by Tom Gormican, best known for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Gormican is also co-writing the script with Kevin Etten. While plot details remain under wraps, early reports suggest the story will follow a group of friends facing mid-life crises as they attempt to remake their favourite childhood movie. However, their jungle adventure takes an unexpected and terrifying turn, according to Variety. Though it shares the title Anaconda, the movie is unrelated to the 1997 cult thriller starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight. Instead, it promises a fresh, meta take, combining comedy and horror in a style reminiscent of Gormican's previous work. The project is being produced by Brad Fuller and Andrew Form under their Fully Formed banner. Black and Rudd, both closely linked to Sony through their roles in the Jumanji and Ghostbusters franchises, are also actively involved in the production. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 08:32 AM IST | Washington | ANIIn a very shocking turn of events, Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. It is being said that the actor has sued Baldoni for allegedly giving her severe distress on the sets of the film. For the unversed, for months since the release of the film and sometime before that, it was said that there was severe discord between Blake and Justin, who also serves as the director of the film. This is now finally confirmed as Blake has taken the legal route and filed a lawsuit against Justin. Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni The lawsuit, cited by TMZ, says there was a meeting held by the team to address Blake Lively’s demands to work in the movie. This meeting was also attended by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. Some of the demands that were addressed, according to the lawsuit, included "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous 'pornography addiction,' no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight, and no further mention of Blake's dead father." "No more adding of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by BL outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project" were also the demands mentioned in the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively. The lawsuit confirms that Sony, who produced the movie, agreed to the demand, but Justin Baldoni soon became part of a "social manipulation" campaign to "destroy" her reputation soon after. Justin Baldoni’s lawyer reacts However, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has now said that the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively is to "fix her negative reputation." He also said that her allegations are "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt." Bryan claims Lively caused problems on the sets of their film that is now on streaming, "threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release.” About It End With Us It Ends With Us is based on Colleen Hoover's novel. The news about Justin Baldoni’s alleged chauvinistic behavior surfaced early this year when reports claimed he was borderline abusive on sets and made the atmosphere of the entire set very difficult to work on. There is no direct comment on the row from Justin or Blake at this point.
21 December,2024 08:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
