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Justin Baldoni’s legal team clapped back at Blake Lively’s “preposterous” allegation that the actor used the “abuser playbook” while filing his $400 million lawsuit against her and Ryan Reynolds.
“The mere fact that Ms. Lively feels that she can publicly destroy Mr. Baldoni’s reputation in an attempt to devastate his future career and then deny him or his team their own ability to defend theirselves against her is preposterous,” the “Jane the Virgin” alum’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, told Deadline.
“Mr Baldoni never once publicly attempted to call Ms. Lively out for her own many wrongdoings during filming.”
“He kindly addressed all her concerns during filming in the correct manner despite the fact that he wholly disagreed, he himself was committed to do things differently and to keep the peace as she specifically admitted to in her own lawsuit,” Freedman continued.
Baldoni’s attorney furthered he plans to “defend” his client “against Blake’s power, privilege and all out lies,” adding, “but we will now fight even harder for the voiceless in the DV community who are unfairly suffering while she continues to push on her own self-serving and selfish vendetta in the media.”
Freedman also called Lively, 37, out for “[doubling] down on the revoltingly false sexual allegations against Mr. Baldoni,” after the filmmaker filed “200 pages of undeniable facts and documentary evidence” that “crushed their false allegations.”
Reps for the “Gossip Girl” alum weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
On Thursday, Baldoni, 40, and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, filed their lawsuit against Lively and included Reynolds’ name in the bombshell complaint.
Per the filing obtained by Page Six, the “Five Feet Apart” director accused the actress of using the “Deadpool” star and her BFF Taylor Swift to “pressure” him into accepting her “It Ends With Us” script edits.
Lively allegedly told Baldoni that her husband and the “Lover” songstress were “absolute titans” and referred to them as “dragons” who protect her.
“The message could not have been clearer. Baldoni was not just dealing with Lively,” the filing read. “He was also facing Lively’s ‘dragons,’ two of the most influential and wealthy celebrities in the world, who were not afraid to make things very difficult for him.”
The lawsuit also details how the “A Simple Favor” star allegedly inserted “herself into the production process in intrusive ways well beyond the scope of her contractual entitlement,” including by controling her wardrobe.
Baldoni further denied the sexual harassment allegations, claiming he never walked in on Lively breast-feeding her then-newborn and stated she “freely breast-fed in front of him during meetings.”
The movie producer offered insight on allegations that he would discuss his past porn addiction with Lively, alleging he only mentioned his history with the explicit content when the latter “offered up” her own experience.
Baldoni also alleged Lively made fun of his nose and insisted he get plastic surgery.
Elsewhere, he accused Reynolds, 48, of being aggressive and angry during a meeting with the movie crew, claiming the “Free Guy” star’s actions left Sony producers in “shock.”
“This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook,” Lively’s legal team responded to the lawsuit on Thursday via a statement to Page Six.
“This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim.”
After months of speculation about Baldoni and Lively’s fued on the “It Ends With Us” set, the latter filed a complaint on Dec. 21 accusing her co-star of sexual harassment and trying to destroy her career.
After filing the complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, she filed her formal lawsuit against Baldoni on Dec. 31. On the same day, he filed one against the New York Times for libel after they reported on the original complaint.
Baldoni and Lively have continued to deny any wrongdoings.
