In a shocking turn of events, actress Blake Lively has brought forth serious allegations against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The claims, which have sparked widespread media attention, center around accusations of sexual harassment and attempts to tarnish Lively’s reputation through strategic public relations tactics.
The legal documents filed by Lively accuse Baldoni and his PR team of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. According to the complaint, Baldoni hired crisis PR managers to plant negative stories about Lively across social media and the press. The alleged goal was to damage her reputation following complaints by Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, about disturbing on-set behavior.
Detailed text messages, allegedly obtained by Lively through a subpoena, form a crucial part of her case. These messages appear to show conversations between Baldoni and his PR team, discussing strategies to manipulate the public narrative. One message refers to a PR package worth £175,000 designed to manage social media activity over several months. Another package, priced at $25,000 per month, involved creating social engagement to counteract negative portrayals.
In a particularly damning exchange, a PR team member is noted to have ‘reckless thoughts’ about placing stories on how difficult Lively was to work with. The team appears to celebrate the success of their efforts, as most social media platforms sided with Baldoni. Further exchanges suggest no ethical boundaries were observed, with discussions touching on extreme measures, albeit jokingly.
The lawsuit claims that Baldoni pivoted from the original marketing strategy for the film. Instead, he allegedly shifted focus to domestic violence themes, presenting himself as an advocate to safeguard his image amidst the harassment accusations. This shift, Lively argues, was an attempt to deflect attention from the allegations she raised.
Baldoni, on his part, vehemently denies these claims. His legal representation has dismissed the accusations as entirely false, arguing that the measures taken were in response to demands by Lively that threatened the film’s production and promotional campaigns. They maintain that any PR actions were standard and non-retaliatory.
Lively hopes her legal actions expose what she perceives as a larger pattern of retaliatory tactics aimed at individuals who voice concerns about misconduct. She insists that her complaint is not just about personal vindication but about setting a precedent to protect others who might face similar situations.
The controversy surrounding the film’s release in August 2024, which coincided with other promotional activities involving Reynolds, has only intensified the scrutiny on both Lively and Baldoni’s professional dynamics. Their apparent discord has fueled speculation about the difficulties faced during the film’s production and promotion.
As Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni unfolds, it highlights serious accusations and raises questions about Hollywood’s handling of on-set misconduct. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the industry, potentially reshaping how allegations of harassment and reputation management are addressed in the public eye.
Source: News.sky
