The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to grow more complicated. After Baldoni filed a lawsuit against The New York Times over their coverage of Lively’s complaints about his behavior, the publication has moved to be dismissed from the case.
A spokesperson for Lively has backed this decision, accusing Baldoni and his team of using a “scorched earth” social media strategy to discredit both Lively and the media.
Lively’s spokesperson called Baldoni’s lawsuit a “shameless PR document” and claimed it had no place in court. The spokesperson also pointed out that Baldoni, who has long advocated for men to believe women, turned to aggressive tactics when Lively spoke out about his behavior.
They argued that these tactics would not succeed in court and should be seen for what they are—meritless claims.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, Senior Vice President of External Communications at The New York Times, explained why the publication is seeking dismissal. She stated that the lawsuit should never have been filed against them. The newspaper had simply reported on Lively’s concerns about her treatment during and after the filming of It Ends With Us, which had been filed with the California Civil Rights Department.
Lively’s spokesperson also emphasized that Baldoni’s campaign against The New York Times would not silence them. “We did exactly what news organizations should do,” Ha said, defending the publication’s decision to report on Lively’s complaint. She further explained that Baldoni’s legal action would not stop them from continuing to cover the story.
Baldoni’s legal team recently updated their claims, suggesting that Lively and The New York Times had coordinated their efforts months before the article was published. The publication responded by asserting that their involvement was limited to reporting the news, and they had not conspired in any way with Lively.
Meanwhile, Baldoni’s lawsuits continue to pile up. In addition to suing The New York Times, he is also pursuing legal action against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation.
Lively, in turn, is countersuing Baldoni. On February 28, a judge issued a mixed ruling in Lively’s favor, allowing her to subpoena part of Baldoni’s phone records, though other requests were denied as overly intrusive.
As the legal battle drags on, experts predict the situation will only become “nastier” as more developments unfold. We will continue to keep you updated as this complex and highly publicized case evolves.
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