Jenny Slate, a well-known actress, has reportedly filed a complaint against Jamey Heath, the producing partner of Justin Baldoni. The complaint stems from alleged comments Heath made about motherhood that left Slate feeling uncomfortable. The details of this incident were brought to light in a new report by The Hollywood Reporter, which delves into whether the ongoing dispute between It Ends With Us co-stars Baldoni and Blake Lively might be partly due to misunderstandings over cultural and religious norms.
Both Baldoni and Heath are adherents of the Baha’i faith, a religion that emphasizes "universal peace" and creates a profound spiritual and emotional connection to issues such as equality and justice. Steve Sarowitz, a billionaire businessman who invested in their production company, Wayfarer Studios, also shares this faith. Baldoni, in particular, is known for publicly expressing his beliefs and reportedly relies on his faith to guide his behavior and decision-making on set.
According to a source, "I've never worked with a male director who was so worried about everyone's emotional and mental well-being," highlighting Baldoni's unique approach. The article suggests that some actions Lively criticized Baldoni for in her lawsuit, such as constant hugging and over-sharing, might be linked to misunderstandings tied to his faith.
The incident involving Slate and Heath has yet to be extensively reported, only referenced in court documents with Slate's name redacted. An amended complaint filed by Lively's lawyers mentions two other actresses feeling uncomfortable on the It Ends With Us set. The alleged incident occurred when Slate, who has a toddler, expressed dissatisfaction with her rented apartment in New York City during filming. She was hesitant to move due to a substantial security deposit loss of approximately $15,000.
Heath allegedly assured Slate that Wayfarer would cover the deposit loss but used language that unnerved her, reportedly focusing intensely on the sanctity of motherhood and Slate's role as a mother. This interaction reportedly made Slate uncomfortable enough to file a complaint. Representatives for Slate and lawyers for Heath have not commented on the situation.
According to one source, Heath has expressed that this incident reflects how acts of kindness have been misinterpreted and used against him, Baldoni, and others involved in the dispute. As tensions continue to rise on the It Ends With Us set, it remains to be seen how these misunderstandings will be resolved.
