The legal dispute between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, continues to escalate, with new reports revealing Baldoni’s plans to file a countersuit against Lively.
This move follows the 80-page complaint Lively filed on December 20, which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied all allegations.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, Baldoni is preparing to file the countersuit along with his business partner, Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath, and the publicists named in Lively’s complaint.
The lawsuit, expected to be filed by attorney Bryan Freedman after the New Year, will reportedly include several key claims:
- Lively’s Vision PR team, led by Leslie Sloane, was behind the smear campaign against Baldoni, not the other way around.
- WhatsApp messages from Baldoni’s team were presented out of context in a way that alters their meaning.
- Lively’s publicist allegedly planted stories in the media that painted Baldoni in a negative light.
- Lively’s legal actions are seen as an attempt to rebuild her public image following negative press during the It Ends With Us promotional campaign.
It’s important to note that the Daily Mail is already mentioned multiple times in Lively’s legal filing, as a venue for parties involved in the dispute.
Today’s report further fuels the narrative that Baldoni’s camp is fighting back against what they view as a manipulated story.
Despite the ongoing drama, It Ends With Us—based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel about domestic abuse—has been a box office success, grossing over $350 million from a $25 million production budget. The film’s success, however, has been overshadowed by the friction between its stars.
In her statement following the filing of her complaint, Lively expressed hope that her legal action would expose retaliatory tactics used against those who speak up about misconduct.
Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation complaint to the California Civil Rights Department is not yet a lawsuit, but it sets the stage for one in the near future.
Lively has received widespread support from industry figures, while Baldoni has faced significant professional consequences. He was dropped by his agency, WME, which also represents Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
Additionally, Baldoni lost a women’s solidarity award, and his podcast co-host quit their project. Baldoni is also being sued by his former publicist.
In a preemptive move against any potential countersuit, Vision PR’s Sloane issued a statement denying the allegations made by Baldoni’s team.
She clarified that she was contacted by press outlets in August 2024 regarding anonymous tips about HR complaints on the It Ends With Us set.
Sloane emphasized that she did not originate the stories about HR complaints, as suggested by Baldoni’s camp, and referred press inquiries to Wayfarer or Sony for further information.
On the other side, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, did not confirm the details of the countersuit but promised that it would “shock everyone.”
He described the situation as an example of “unethical behavior” fueled by media manipulation, comparing it to high-profile media controversies involving figures like Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union.
As the legal battle continues to unfold, both sides are preparing for a protracted fight, with each side accusing the other of manipulating the media and spreading false narratives.
The countersuit, once filed, is expected to provide new insights into the behind-the-scenes tensions on the It Ends With Us set.
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