‘It Ends With Us’: Justin Baldoni lawsuit over Blake Lively article
Director Justin Baldoni Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against The New York Times for Libel
Director Justin Baldoni has taken legal action against The New York Times, filing a lawsuit for at least $250 million in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit stems from allegations made in a Times article that Baldoni sexually harassed and attempted to tarnish the reputation of actress Blake Lively, the star of his film “It Ends With Us.”
The lawsuit accuses The New York Times and Lively of orchestrating a smear campaign against Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs, including lead producer Jamey Heath, production company Wayfarer Studios, and crisis communications expert Melissa Nathan. The article in question, titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” was published following a legal complaint filed by Lively with the California Civil Rights Department.
Both Lively’s complaint and The New York Times story allege that Baldoni engaged publicists and crisis managers in a plot to discredit Lively if she spoke out about on-set issues. Baldoni’s lawsuit claims that the Times relied heavily on Lively’s account without considering contradictory evidence or motives.
The Times has defended its reporting, stating that the story was meticulously researched and based on thousands of pages of documents, including quoted text messages and emails. However, Baldoni’s lawsuit asserts that the Times overlooked evidence suggesting Lively was behind a calculated smear campaign.
Lively is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and her legal team maintains that the claims in her civil rights complaint remain unchanged. The release of “It Ends With Us” was marred by speculation of tension between Lively and Baldoni, with Baldoni stepping back from promotional activities while Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds took the spotlight.
Background of Involved Parties
Blake Lively rose to fame through films like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl.” Justin Baldoni, known for his work on “Jane the Virgin” and the film “Five Feet Apart,” faced scrutiny over allegations that “It Ends With Us” romanticized domestic violence.
Despite the controversy, the film exceeded box office expectations with a $50 million debut. Baldoni was dropped by his agency, WME, following the publication of the Times article and Lively’s complaint.
The legal battle between Baldoni and The New York Times continues to unfold, with both sides standing firm in their positions. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the entertainment industry and how allegations of misconduct are handled.
