Blake Lively says Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Now, Baldoni is suing The New York Times for $250 million, claiming its coverage was deliberately misleading.
According to an exclusive report by Variety, Baldoni filed his lawsuit Tuesday, Dec. 31, in Los Angeles Superior Court. His new 87-page complaint argues that Lively’s claims were distorted by “cherry-picked” texts.
Among these texts, one publicist working with Baldoni stated an intention to “bury” Lively. Crisis management expert Melissa Nathan responded, “You know we can bury anyone.”
Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs allege the Times “deliberately spliced” communications to mislead readers. Meanwhile, Lively’s suit accuses Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
However, Baldoni insists that Lively launched a “strategic and manipulative” smear to control the production. He also believes Lively used her influence against him.
Baldoni says Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, confronted him at their penthouse and accused him of fat-shaming Lively. For context, Lively’s suit reveals a meeting to address Baldoni’s actions involving Reynolds.
Baldoni’s lawsuit further states that Reynolds pressured the director’s WME talent agent to drop him as a client. WME did, in fact, part ways with Baldoni just hours after the Times article was published.
In the $250 million “Blake Lively ‘It Ends With Us’ lawsuit” dispute, Baldoni hopes to refute claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear.
In another exclusive from TMZ, Lively reportedly filed a separate suit demanding more money for mental pain, anguish, emotional distress and lost wages.
