Justin Baldoni, actor and director of It Ends With Us, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the publication of libel, invasion of privacy, and intentionally misleading reporting. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, comes in response to a December 21 article that alleged Baldoni sexually harassed his co-star Blake Lively and orchestrated a smear campaign against her after she raised workplace concerns.
The controversial article, titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” detailed accusations of Baldoni’s repeated misconduct on set, including claims that he entered Lively’s makeup trailer uninvited. The piece also alleged a toxic environment fostered by Baldoni and the film’s producers, Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz.
Baldoni’s complaint, supported by publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel also plaintiffs contends that the Times article was based on “cherry-picked” and out-of-context communications that misrepresented the truth. The lawsuit claims the article relied almost entirely on Lively’s narrative, dismissing evidence contradicting her claims.
Advertisement The Allegations and Counterclaims
In the Times article, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, including entering her makeup trailer while she was breastfeeding. However, Baldoni’s lawsuit argues that these claims were exaggerated and misrepresented. The complaint includes text exchanges between Baldoni and Lively, such as a June 2023 message in which Lively invited Baldoni to work on lines in her trailer. The lawsuit contends that such interactions were consensual and professional.
The suit further alleges that Lively manipulated events to gain control over the production and used false harassment claims to undermine Baldoni and his associates. According to the complaint, Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, also became involved, allegedly berating Baldoni during a meeting at the couple’s Tribeca penthouse and pressuring Baldoni’s agency, WME, to sever ties with him.
WME, however, denies any external pressure led to its decision to drop Baldoni.
The Role of The New York Times
“Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. The publication added that it plans to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.“
The Times has defended its reporting, stating
The complaint accuses the Times of omitting crucial context, including text messages where Nathan and Abel appeared to deny involvement in negative press about Lively. The lawsuit further disputes the article’s claim that Baldoni ignored industry standards for filming intimate scenes, presenting evidence that Lively had expressed no urgency in meeting with the film’s intimacy coordinator.
Legal and Industry Fallout
Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, alleges that Lively’s publicist planted negative stories about Baldoni, including allegations of sexual misconduct and defamatory claims about his Baháʼí faith. The lawsuit also asserts that The New York Times rushed its reporting, reaching out to the plaintiffs late on a Friday night and publishing the story hours before a requested deadline.
The fallout from the allegations has been significant. The Times article led to WME dropping Baldoni as a client and has strained relationships within Hollywood. Despite the controversy, It Ends With Us became a box-office hit, earning $351 million globally on a $25 million budget. However, the likelihood of a sequel has diminished due to the ongoing conflict.
Lively’s Federal Complaint
Shortly after Baldoni’s lawsuit was filed, Lively’s legal team announced a federal complaint against Wayfarer Studios and Baldoni, alleging retaliation for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns. Her lawyers stated, “The defendants will answer for their conduct in federal court.”
What’s Next?
The lawsuit underscores a broader debate about the intersection of journalism, celebrity, and legal disputes. As both sides prepare for potential discovery, the unfolding case is set to bring more details to light, further igniting one of Hollywood’s most talked-about feuds.
Source: Variety