Justin Baldoni files $250M libel lawsuit against the New York Times over Blake Lively story
Justin Baldoni filed a bombshell $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times after they published a story about his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.
According to Variety, the actor filed the 87-page complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday after the Times published the article “We Can Bury Anyone”: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” on Dec. 21.
The filing lists his 10 plaintiffs, including his publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan, who accused the outlet of “libel and false light invasion of privacy.”
“It Ends With Us” producers Steve Sarowitz and Jamey Heath allege the Times “cherry-picked and altered communications” without providing “necessary context.”
The lawsuit also accused the outlet of “promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract” with an argument against the claims written in their story about Lively, per Variety.
“The Times story relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative, lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives,” the complaint alleges.
The lawsuit also points out that Lively, 37, filed a complaint against Baldoni, 40, on Dec. 21 rather than a lawsuit, which the latter’s filing referred to as “a choice that spared her from the scrutiny of the discovery process, including answering questions under oath and producing her communications.
“This decision was no accident,” the lawsuit states.
The “Gossip Girl” alum, however, also filed a lawsuit against Baldoni on Tuesday, accusing him of emotional distress.
The Times responded to Baldoni’s lawsuit via a statement to Page Six on Tuesday, writing, “The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead.
“Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.
“To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed to a single error. We published their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
Reps for Lively weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Earlier this month, Lively spoke to the Times after filing a complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she told the outlet.
The two worked together on the film adaption of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel about domestic violence from 2023 to early 2024.
Per the filing obtained by Page Six, the “A Simple Favor” star claimed a meeting about Baldoni’s behavior on set as the movie’s antagonist and director.
In the meeting — which was also attended by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds — Baldoni was allegedly warned to stop talking about his porn addiction and showing the actress “nude videos or images of women.”
The movie producer was also allegedly told not to discuss the “cast and crew’s genitalia,” Lively’s weight or her late father. Baldoni was allegedly prohibited from adding more sex scenes to the film
According to the complaint, Lively also accused her co-star of coordinating a smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
The “Jane the Virgin” star and Lively notably worked with intimacy coordinators on set to ensure they could “all feel safe.”
His and Wayfarer Studios’ lawyer, Bryan Freedman, also denied the allegations put forth by the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” star, referring to them as “serious and categorically false.”
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” he told us.
Freedman also claimed that his client was forced to hire a crisis manager because of Lively’s “multiple demands and threats,” which allegedly included threatening to not return to set or promote the film “if her demands were not met.”
When “It Ends With Us” was released in August, sources told Page Six Baldoni allegedly made the mom of four feel “uncomfortable” on set.
Lively reportedly felt insecure about her figure and thought Baldoi, who had previously experienced a back injury, “fat-shamed” her when he asked how much she weighed so he could prepare to lift her for a scene.
Lively, however, came under fire when promoting the film and was criticized for her approach to questions about the movie’s theme of domestic violence.
