Blake Lively sues director Justin Baldoni alleging smear campaign after he files libel lawsuit
In a shocking turn of events, actor Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni and several others tied to the romantic drama, alleging harassment and a coordinated campaign to attack her reputation for speaking out about her treatment on set. The federal lawsuit, filed in New York, came just hours after Baldoni and other defendants in Lively’s suit sued The New York Times for libel over their coverage of the allegations.
The lawsuits have rocked Hollywood and sparked conversations about the treatment of female actors both on sets and in the media. Lively’s suit accuses Baldoni, the film’s production company Wayfarer Studios, and others of engaging in a retaliatory scheme to silence her after she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, addressed claims of sexual harassment and disturbing behavior on set.
The alleged mistreatment included inappropriate comments from Baldoni about Lively’s body and attempts to pressure her to reveal intimate details about her personal life. Baldoni’s lawyer has called the allegations false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.
In response to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and others filed a libel lawsuit against The New York Times, seeking at least $250 million. The Times has stood by its reporting, saying it was meticulously researched and based on thousands of pages of original documents.
The libel lawsuit claims the Times ignored evidence that contradicted Lively’s claims and exposed her true motives. However, the Times maintains that its reporting was accurate and responsible. Lively is not a defendant in the libel lawsuit.
The romantic drama It Ends With Us, based on a bestselling novel, was a box office success, but its release was overshadowed by speculation about discord between Lively and Baldoni. Baldoni was dropped by his agency, WME, following Lively’s complaint and the Times’ story.
Lively rose to fame in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl before starring in films like The Town and The Shallows. Baldoni, known for Jane the Virgin and Five Feet Apart, responded to criticism of It Ends With Us, saying critics were entitled to their opinions.
The legal battles between Lively, Baldoni, and The New York Times continue to unfold, with each side standing firm in their defense. The outcome of these lawsuits could have far-reaching implications for how actors are treated on set and how the media covers allegations of misconduct in Hollywood.
