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Justin Baldoni Sues New York Times for $250 Million Over Blake Lively Harassment Story
Justin Baldoni is taking legal action.
Days after his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and participating in a smear campaign against her, the actor—among a group of 10 plaintiffs—has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for their Dec. 21 report, which centered around Lively’s allegations.
Bryan Freedman, the attorney who filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court Dec. 31 on behalf of the plaintiffs, told E! News in a statement that the NYT “cowered to the wants and whims of two powerful ‘untouchable’ Hollywood elites, disregarding journalistic practices and ethics once befitting of the revered publication by using doctored and manipulated texts and intentionally omitting texts which dispute their chosen PR narrative.”
E! News has reached out to The New York Times for comment and has not heard back.
While Lively’s initial complaint—which listed Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer, colleague Jamey Heath, publicist Jennifer Abel and “crisis communications specialist” Melissa Nathan, among others, as defendants—was filed with the California Civil Rights Department, Lively’s legal team also filed a formal lawsuit against the parties in the Southern District of New York on Dec. 31.
In response to the lawsuit against the NYT, attorneys for Lively told E! News, “Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims advanced in Ms. Lively’s California Civil Rights Department Complaint, nor her federal complaint, filed earlier today.”
“While we will not litigate this matter in the press, we do encourage people to read Ms. Lively’s complaint in its entirety,” the statement concluded. “We look forward to addressing each and every one of Wayfarer’s allegations in court.”
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin / GC Images / Robert Kamau / GC Images
Freedman, a lawyer for Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, previously denied Lively’s complaint allegations, calling it “another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation.”
“These claims are completely false,” he continued, “outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
In both of the Gossip Girl alum’s complaints—California Civil Rights Department complaint and her federal complaint—she detailed a meeting that took place in January 2024 to address “the hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production.”
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According to the documents, obtained by E! News, parties present at the meeting, including Lively, husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni, as well as Wayfarer exec and producer Heath, among others, “discussed in detail the inappropriate conduct that Ms. Lively, her employees and other cast and crew experienced at the hands of Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath.”
Among those details, per the complaint, were “showing nude videos or images of women, including producer’s wife” to Lively or her employees, no more “mention of Mr. Baldoni’s or Mr. Heath’s previous ‘pornography addiction'” or mentioning actress’ late father Ernie Lively.
As a result of the discussion, all parties present agreed that the “conduct would cease.” And filming was able to be completed the following month.
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Lively’s complaints also allege that the smear campaign has impacted her family, including her and Reynolds’ four kids: James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, born in 2023.
“Worst of all, however, has been the impact on their young children, who have been traumatized,” the complaint notes, “and emotionally uprooted in ways that have substantially impacted their well-being.”
“There are days when she has struggled to get out of bed, and she frequently chooses not to venture outside in public,” the docs add of Lively. “While she has fought to maintain her personal life and business interests, behind closed doors she has suffered from grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety.”
Keep reading to the stars who’ve spoken out following Lively’s complaint…
Instagram / Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover
After Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the film’s set and for later taking part in a smear campaign against her—claims that he has since denied via his lawyer—Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book that the movie is based on, shared a message to the actress.
“@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Colleen wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 21. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
Robyn Lively
Blake’s sister, fellow actress Robyn Lively, also weighed in.
“I urge everyone to read The NY Times article in its entirety,” Robyn wrote on Instagram Dec. 23, referencing the NYT piece that details Blake’s complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department. “It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister.”
The Teen Witch star went on to note that it also “highlights” what Blake allegedly experienced on the set of It Ends With Us.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Paul Feig
Blake’s A Simple Favor director also came to her defense, writing on X Dec. 22, “I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”
Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
Amy Schumer
The comedian showed her support for the Gossip Girl alum, writing on her Instagram Story Dec. 22, “I believe Blake.”
Joseph Agustin
Gwyneth Paltrow
Shortly after Blake’s complaint was made public, the Goop founder shared a photo of The Town star’s hair company, Blake Brown, on her Instagram Story, writing, “Just added to my Christmas wish list.”
Instagram / America Ferrera
Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn & America Ferrera
Blake’s BFFs and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars penned a joint message, posted to Instagram Dec. 22, stating they “stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.”
Noam Galai/WireImage
Bart Johnson
Bart Johnson shared an impassioned defense of his sister-in-law in the comments section of a New York Times Instagram post detailing the filing and its own investigation into the behind-the-scenes turmoil.
“Her complained were filed during the filming,” the High School Musical alum, who is married to Blake’s sister Robyn, wrote. “On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him for a reason. Read this article before spitting ignorance. His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out faults. But the public got played.”
He later added on X of Baldoni, “He’s a fraud. He puts on the ‘costume’ of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of it’s genuine. It’s all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years. Rewatch his videos with a more critical eye and watch him compliment and praise himself with faux humility and self deprecation. What a performance.”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Disney
Shawn Levy
Ryan Reynolds’ frequent collaborator Shawn Levy shared the New York Times investigation into the smear campaign on his Instagram Stories, writing, “Proud to call @blakelively a friend.”
Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Amber Heard
Days after Lively’s filing was made public, Amber Heard reflected on her own experience facing relentless vitriol online amid ex Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her.
“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,’” the Aquaman star expressed in a statement to NBC News Dec. 23. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
Brandon Sklenar
Brandon Sklenar, who played Blake’s love interest Atlas Corrigan in It Ends With Us, had a simple, pointed message of support.
Sharing a screenshot of the Gossip Girl alum’s full complaint against Baldoni on his Instagram Stories Dec. 23, he wrote over a link to the text, “For the love of God read this.” He followed up by tagging her with a heart emoji.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Jenny Slate
Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s sister and Blake’s BFF in the film, shared her thoughts on the “disturbing” allegations.
“As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,” Slate said in a Dec. 23 statement to Today. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.”
“What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening,” the Parks and Recreation alum continued. “I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”
Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage
Michele Morrone
The actor, who stars alongside Lively in the upcoming sequel to A Simple Favor, sent his love to her on Instagram Story Dec. 23, adding that he felt her “pain” as they filmed together earlier this year.
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