Justin Baldoni has filed a libel lawsuit against The New York Times in response to allegations of sexual harassment made by his co-star Blake Lively. The lawsuit, submitted Tuesday, accuses the newspaper of publishing an article that Baldoni claims is “rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions” and heavily relies on Lively’s “self-serving narrative.”
Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by Baldoni. She claimed that after voicing concerns about harassment on the set of their film It Ends With Us, Baldoni and his team retaliated by leaking negative press to damage her reputation.
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These allegations were first reported in a New York Times article titled, “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” which detailed contents of the confidential Civil Rights Department complaint.
Following the publication of the article, Baldoni faced professional fallout, including being dropped by talent agency WME, which also represents Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Lively received strong support from Hollywood, including a statement from SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, and backing from Sony, the studio behind It Ends With Us.
In his lawsuit, Baldoni accuses Lively of fabricating harassment claims to gain control over the film and rehabilitate her public image through sensational accusations. The suit alleges that The New York Times failed to verify Lively’s allegations, disregarding evidence that contradicted her claims.
A spokesperson for The New York Times responded, asserting the article was “meticulously and responsibly reported” and based on extensive documentation, including text messages and emails. The publication stated it plans to defend itself vigorously.
Lively’s attorneys maintain that the lawsuit does not change the validity of her claims. They also filed a federal complaint on Tuesday and expressed confidence in addressing the allegations in court.
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Baldoni’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by attorney Bryan Freedman, includes multiple plaintiffs, including his production company Wayfarer Studios, producing partner Jamey Heath (also accused by Lively), and publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan. It presents evidence disputing Lively’s claims, including text messages Freedman asserts were manipulated. One notable rebuttal concerns Lively’s allegation that Baldoni entered her trailer uninvited while she was undressed. Baldoni’s lawsuit includes a text allegedly from Lively inviting him into the trailer, though CNN has not verified the authenticity of the messages.
The lawsuit also claims The New York Times omitted evidence contradicting Lively’s narrative. Baldoni alleges that Lively and her team orchestrated a smear campaign to shift public attention from her personal controversies to him.
Freedman criticized Lively and The New York Times for engaging in what he called a “vicious smear campaign” to bolster Lively’s public image. He stated Baldoni’s team is prepared to present comprehensive evidence to support their claims.