In a heated legal confrontation, actor and director Justin Baldoni is counter-suing actress Blake Lively for $400 million in a defamation lawsuit. This legal action comes after Lively made allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni, accusing him of attempting to tarnish her reputation during their collaboration on the film “It Ends With Us.” The lawsuit also involves Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm, Vision PR.
The accusations from Lively were made public through a lawsuit filed in December of last year, not long after the film’s release. She alleges that Baldoni, who was both the director and a lead actor on the set, sexually harassed her and tried to sabotage her career. Baldoni’s legal team has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as “categorically false.”
In response to the allegations, Baldoni’s attorney issued a statement accusing Lively of using her influence to manipulate the script and employing famous figures like Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds to support her proposed changes. The statement from Baldoni’s lawyer described the counteraction as necessitated by what they termed a misuse of power for personal vendetta by Lively.
Moreover, Baldoni’s attorney suggested that the situation is a classic example of DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender), a concept often discussed in the context of psychological manipulation in abuse cases. The statement accused Lively of seeking to revictimize Baldoni by turning the tables after her initial allegations.
The legal documents from Baldoni’s attorney label the sexual allegations against him as “revoltingly false” and express intentions to defend Baldoni vigorously against what they see as unjust attacks on his character and career. The comprehensive legal filing from Baldoni’s side includes nearly 200 pages of documents and communications intended to refute Lively’s claims, portraying them as a smear campaign.
In addition to the exchange between the primary parties, the lawsuit has also impacted others associated with Baldoni. Publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, also named in Lively’s complaint, have issued a statement regarding the severe repercussions they have faced due to the actress’s allegations. They mentioned becoming the target of death threats and hate speech, which they attribute to manipulated information Lively allegedly provided to the media.
This ongoing legal battle has garnered significant attention, highlighting not just the personal and professional disputes between the individuals involved but also broader issues of power dynamics and media influence in Hollywood. As this legal drama unfolds, the statements from both parties reflect deep-seated animosity and a complex web of relationships that the court will need to untangle.
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