In a contentious legal move, Justin Baldoni has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, challenging its portrayal of him in the article concerning Blake Lively’s harassment claims. The lawsuit accuses the newspaper of relying heavily on what it describes as embellished narratives from Lively, resulting in significant reputational damage for Baldoni.
The lawsuit, filed on a recent Tuesday, alleges that the Times’ article about Blake Lively’s harassment claims was skewed by relying “almost entirely” on Lively’s version of events without substantiating them. Baldoni contends that the report overlooked critical evidence undermining her allegations and motivations.
Lively had previously accused Baldoni, her co-star in “It Ends With Us,” of sexual harassment in a California Civil Rights Department complaint. The lawsuit claims that Lively’s accusations were part of a strategic smear campaign to gain production control, citing numerous messages that allegedly contradict the narrative presented in the Times’ article.
The Times, however, stands by its reporting, describing it as thorough and responsible, based on extensive reviews of various documents, including messages and emails. The newspaper maintains that it accurately reflected these communications within the article and expects to rigorously defend itself in court.
Representatives for Lively maintain that the lawsuit does not alter the validity of her allegations, which are also part of a federal complaint. They intend to confront the claims in a legal setting. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s lawyers suggest that other culpable parties could face legal challenges, hinting at further litigation following this case.
Baldoni and his legal team argue that the Times omitted essential context that would paint a different picture regarding Lively’s allegations. This context, according to the suit, counteracts the portrayal of Baldoni’s actions and highlights a bias in favor of Lively’s claims.
The article also featured excerpts from text messages between PR professionals Nathan and Abel, allegedly facilitating negative publicity against Lively. However, Baldoni’s lawsuit indicates that these excerpts were selectively quoted, missing Nathan’s insistence that she had no part in the story’s creation.
Furthermore, the lawsuit disputes allegations about inappropriate conduct on set. It counters claims that Baldoni and Heath, a producer, invaded Lively’s privacy during filming, stating that interactions were consensual and professional, referencing messages from Lively that imply comfort with the working environment.
Additionally, Baldoni addresses the claim that he was unaware of a letter supposedly proposing new set guidelines. His lawsuit claims this document was neither presented to him nor agreed upon at any meeting, challenging its reported existence by the Times.
The dispute escalates with accusations against Lively’s PR team for using media tactics to deteriorate Baldoni’s public image. He argues that instead of him deviating from a marketing strategy, Lively’s side orchestrated negative media coverage against him. Allegedly, stories were fabricated to highlight discomfort experienced by Lively on set, furthering the damage to Baldoni’s reputation.
The lawsuit also outlines confrontations between Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, alleging incidents of aggressive behavior and career sabotage attempts. Amid claims of manipulation, Baldoni describes interactions where Reynolds allegedly pressured Baldoni’s agency to sever ties with him. Despite these tensions, the agency has publicly refuted any undue influence from Reynolds or Lively in its client’s affairs.
Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times and the surrounding events highlight intense disputes over narrative control and reputation management in high-profile legal matters. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for media accountability and the complexities of public relations in Hollywood.
Source: Businessinsider
