Justin Baldoni’s ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign

Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign

As a seasoned movie critic with years of navigating the murky waters of Hollywood gossip, I must say that this Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni saga is as juicy as a ripe peach on a hot summer day. The allegations against Baldoni have indeed taken a turn for the dramatic, and it seems like every day brings a new twist to the tale.

The ongoing accusations against director and co-star Justin Baldoni in the “It Ends With Us” production, initially made by Blake Lively, have stirred quite a buzz in Hollywood. Now, an additional lawsuit escalates the situation even further.

On Tuesday, Stephanie Jones, previously Baldoni’s publicist, brought forth a complaint in New York Supreme Court, alleging that Baldoni’s crisis management team orchestrated a strategic attempt to discredit her and shift responsibility away from what she describes as a retaliatory slander campaign aimed at Lively.

In my perspective, the recent lawsuit I’ve become part of serves as another piece in the growing puzzle stemming from the legal action I initiated last week in California. In this case, I, as an actor, have accused Baldoni of sexually harassing me on the set of our romantic drama. The allegations include instances of unwanted physical intimacy during scenes, being pressured to perform more nudity than initially agreed upon, and a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation by planting damaging stories about me in the media after I voiced concerns about a hostile work environment.

In her legal claim, Jones claims that Jennifer Abel, who was once a high-ranking member at her PR agency, Jonesworks, along with crisis manager Melissa Nathan, devised a ruthless strategy to protect Baldoni from Lively’s accusations of misconduct and simultaneously tarnish Jones’ own image. The strategy, as stated in the lawsuit, included spreading negative news about Lively through various media outlets, creating fake social media profiles to intensify the criticism, and exploiting Baldoni’s reputation as a feminist advocate to discredit Jones.

Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign

Entertainment & Arts

In this article, we’ll delve into the key details of Blake Lively’s lawsuit against her ‘The End of Us’ co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, as outlined in her legal complaint: A breakdown of their roles and essential information you should be aware of.

According to the lawsuit, without Jones knowing, Abel and Nathan conspired with Baldoni and his studio, Wayfarer, to launch a harsh and damaging public attack on Baldoni’s fellow actor in one of his films.

From 2017 up until her termination in August 2024, Jones, who handled Baldoni and Wayfarer’s public relations, asserts that an alleged scheme damaged her professional bond with the actor-director. Abel is being accused of exploiting confidential company data to lure clients away and set up a rival PR agency.

According to the lawsuit, it’s claimed that defendants Abel and Nathan clandestinely planned for months to publicly and privately discredit Jones and her PR firm, Jonesworks. The plan included attempting to seize clients and potential business opportunities while falsely accusing Jones of orchestrating a smear campaign against herself.

The submitted documents contain portions of approximately thousands of messages and emails from Abel’s corporate phone, which Jones claims were taken following her dismissal from Jonesworks in August, just before the dissolution of the partnership between the company and Baldoni & Wayfarer. In one conversation, Abel is said to have called Baldoni arrogant and ridiculed his participation in a men’s retreat during the film’s premiere, stating, “He doesn’t require a retreat; he needs a good dose of humility.

In simpler terms, Jones alleges that Abel and Nathan are intentionally causing trouble in order to create tension between herself and Baldoni. They aim to exclude her from the industry, potentially harming her career. The lawsuit is aimed at stopping this alleged harassment and sabotage, as well as seeking financial compensation for any damage done by their actions. The legal filing states that it aims to put an end to the defendants’ misconduct and compensate Jones and Jonesworks for the harm caused by their scheme.

Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign

Entertainment & Arts

Notable figures such as America Ferrera and Amber Heard have voiced their support following the lawsuit filed by Blake Lively against ‘It Ends With Us’ director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment.

Lawyer Bryan Freedman, who speaks for Baldoni and the other accused individuals, was unavailable for an immediate response, but he has previously characterized Lively’s accusations against his clients as “unfounded, excessively sensational, and deliberately provocative.

In the midst of legal battles between Lively and Jones, the public scrutiny has intensified, shining a bright light on the strategies used by Hollywood’s PR teams. This revelation has exposed some less savory aspects of reputation control within an industry that is under pressure to be more open and responsible.

Previously, the allegations made against Baldoni have resulted in both professional and recognition consequences. Earlier this week, his management agency, WME, chose not to represent him anymore, and the philanthropic group Vital Voices Global Partnership revoked an award meant to honor him as a champion for women’s empowerment. In their statement, the organization explained that Baldoni’s purported actions, as outlined in Lively’s lawsuit, contradict the principles of Vital Voices and the essence of the Award.

Colleen Hoover, the writer behind the hit novel “It Ends With Us,” has shown her backing for Blake Lively by posting on Instagram, “Blake’s determination to stand up and not ‘be buried’ has been truly inspiring.

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2024-12-28 15:36

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