The update provided on 12/31/21 revealed that actor Justin Baldoni was one of the plaintiffs who filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times following its reporting on Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against him. The plaintiffs allege that Lively pursued a manipulative smear campaign against Baldoni and cherry-picked communications while omitting key details. The New York Times has stated that they stand by their story and plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. Lively’s attorneys have called the lawsuit based on an obviously false premise, while Baldoni’s attorney denies any wrongdoing on his client’s part, calling the article a smear campaign orchestrated by Lively and her team. Lively also filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in a New York court that mirrored her earlier claims filed in California.
TMZ reported in December that Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and severe emotional distress. Baldoni’s lawyer denied these allegations as false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious. Prior to the release of their movie, It Ends With Us, fans speculated on a rift between Lively and Baldoni, noting that Lively does not follow him on Instagram, and he was absent from joint press events for the film. Lively, a producer on the project, promoted the film with other cast members and the author of the book the movie is based on. Despite rumors of tension, Baldoni praised Lively during the press tour and suggested she should direct the possible sequel based on the book.
There were allegations that Lively asked for a cut of the movie from the editor before the film was finalized, which was not uncommon in the editing process. Sources reveal that all parties agreed on the final cut of the film and believed it was the best version. Despite Lively’s involvement in this aspect of the production, rumors of tension persisted, especially with Baldoni being noticeably absent from certain events related to the movie. Lively also shared that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, contributed to the script of a scene in the film, adding more fuel to speculation about conflicts behind the scenes.
The movie, It Ends With Us, is now playing in theaters, but the drama surrounding Lively and Baldoni continues to generate buzz among fans. The allegations and lawsuits between the two actors have raised questions about their off-camera relationship and the production process of the film. The involvement of The New York Times in reporting on the legal disputes further adds to the complexity of the situation. Despite the legal battles and personal differences, Lively and Baldoni have continued to promote the film and have received praise for their performances. As the story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will impact the reputation of the individuals involved and the success of the movie. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
