Kaylah Walton
Recently, actress Blake Lively initiated legal action against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni from the film “It Ends With Us,” alleging sexual harassment and efforts to “tarnish her reputation” through a complex “scheme” that stemmed from a meeting where she noticed “troubling behaviors” on set.
In response, Baldoni has launched a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times after they reported on Lively’s allegations and provided detailed coverage of her claims.
The site Variety disclosed an 87-page legal filing where Baldoni accuses the Times of “promissory fraud and breach of implied contract,” while also vehemently disputing an article titled “‘We can bury anyone’: inside a Hollywood smear machine,” released on December 21.
Aside from legal formalities, Baldoni asserts that Lively’s allegations are false, claiming she is attempting to manipulate the situation to support her accusation of sexual harassment. He specifically mentioned an incident where he supposedly entered her trailer unannounced while she was changing clothes, even while she was nursing.
Backing Baldoni’s lawsuit are ten other individuals, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, who accuse the New York Times of defaming them and breaching their privacy.
What did the NYT report about Lively and Baldoni?
The New York Times piece alleges that Blake Lively faced months of sexual harassment from Baldoni and retaliation after raising her concerns. However, Baldoni contests this narrative, claiming that Lively is attempting to seize control of the production through manipulative tactics and character attacks against him.
Baldoni’s suit additionally names Lively’s spouse, actor Ryan Reynolds, citing allegations of physical harassment during a meeting at Baldoni’s Tribeca penthouse in New York and claims that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agency, WME, to exclude him from events, allegedly during the premiere of “Deadpool & Wolverine” last July.
Reactions from the legal representatives
In response, Blake Lively’s legal team stated that Baldoni’s case does not alter the validity of the complaints already submitted to the California Department of Civil Rights or the federal lawsuit; meanwhile, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, remarked that the NYT “succumbed to the demands of two influential ‘untouchables'” in Hollywood.
