The Harassment Case Shaking Hollywood: Lawyers Break Down the Legal Implications for Employers in Blake Lively v. Wayfarer Studios

"Unscripted Harassment" Norris McLaughlin, P.A.'s The Employment Strategists Podcast 

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blake Lively has sued Wayfarer Studios, LLC naming co-star and director of It Ends with Us (2024) Justin Baldoni and producer James Heath as defendants. In the latest episode of The Employment Strategists podcast, labor and employment attorneys and co-hosts David T. Harmon and Mariya Gonor dissect the case covering Lively's additional HR terms and protections such as Lively's, the effects of no HR policy, and retaliation in harassment cases for both the employer and employee.   

"The entertainment industry has long been a focal point for discussions about workplace harassment, power imbalances, and accountability," says Mariya Gonor, co-chair of the Executive Compensation and Employment Strategies practice group. "It is the entertainment industry that gave us the beginning of the #MeToo movement."

This podcast episode focuses on the HR and harassment implications of the Lively v. Wayfarer case and the roadmap that led to filing the lawsuit. "Lively alleges that Wayfarer failed to provide her with information about the process and procedure for filing human resources," David T. Harmon, co-chair of the Executive Compensation and Employment Strategies practice group. "The key thing here is that this lawsuit is an example of invasion of privacy and crossing the lines of intimacy all within the context of filming a movie."

The attorney duo covers the alleged retaliation tactics by Baldoni and Wayfarer. "Law creates protections against retaliation by the employers and violating this could potentially expose the employer to liability," says Gonor. "Employees are reminded that while not all inappropriate behavior may rise to the legal definition of harassment, that doesn't mean that behavior should go unaddressed or that it should be unreported."

While the lawsuit unfolds, Harmon and Gonor will continue to report updates in their podcast, The Employment Strategists. 

We acknowledge that all information and opinions are allegations, and all parties reserve the right to trial.

Baldoni, J. (Director). (2024). It Ends with Us [Film]. Wayfarer Studios. 

About The Employment Strategists

Explore the workplace with "The Employment Strategists" podcast and blog.

Join your hosts, attorneys David Harmon and Mariya Gonor, as they address challenges faced by both employers and employees. From hiring to termination, this podcast offers insights into the evolving employment relationship. Tune in for engaging and entertaining discussions to help navigate these complex employment-related issues.

This podcast is not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only and you are urged to consult a lawyer concerning your own situation with any specific legal questions you may have. The content reflects the personal views and opinions of the participants.

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Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is a multi-practice, commercial law firm with offices in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, delivering legal solutions to clients wherever they conduct their business, including nationally and internationally. The firm's nearly 130 attorneys practice in more than 25 legal disciplines and industry-focused groups and serve a wide range of clients, including small businesses, middle-market companies, and Fortune 500 corporations, as well as the private individuals and families who may own, lead, and/or manage those companies. Norris McLaughlin is a member of Meritas®, a global alliance of leading independent law firms. To learn more, visit www.norrismclaughlin.com. 

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