‘It’s a PR battle’: inside the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuits
The director and star of hit summer romance It Ends With Us are facing off with lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and defamation
It Ends With Us should have been a success story. The long-awaited film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, a tale of cyclical domestic violence, premiered in August to decent reviews and wide audience interest; it grossed $350m, against a $25m budget, despite a tide of press and social media speculation over an alleged rift between its director, Justin Baldoni, and its star, Blake Lively. Most of the ire was trained on Lively – for glossing over the subject of domestic violence with florals, for simultaneously promoting her haircare and alcohol lines, for being gruff with reporters in the past, while Baldoni, who played the abuser in the film, championed abuse survivors. But the movie was a hit, demonstrating the viability of female-led, mid-budget melodramas at the box office.
Not that anyone remembers that now. The film has become embroiled in an even more dramatic legal mess exposing a different dark secret: Hollywood public relations. On 21 December, the New York Times published an explosive 4,000-word investigation titled ‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Campaign. The report, co-authored by the Harvey Weinstein investigator Megan Twohey, cited documents submitted by Lively in a complaint to the California civil rights commission that accused Baldoni, his co-producer Jamey Heath and their production company, Wayfarer Studios, of orchestrating a smear campaign – including planted stories and artificially boosted social media posts – to destroy Lively’s reputation, in retaliation for speaking up about alleged sexual harassment on set.
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Justin Baldoni countersues "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively
Actor and director Justin Baldoni from "It Ends With Us" is countersuing his co-star Blake Lively over her claims he tried to orchestrate a smear campaign against her. In the 179-page lawsuit, ...CBS News - 21h -
Justin Baldoni Sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for Defamation
The lawsuit is the latest legal action in a feud tied to the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” which starred Ms. Lively and Mr. Baldoni, who also directed the film.The New York Times - 1d -
Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively as "It Ends With Us" feud deepens
Justin Baldoni's lawsuit comes after "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively accused him of sexual harassment.CBS News - 1d -
Justin Baldoni hits back at co-star Blake Lively in £327m lawsuit
It is the latest step in a bitter legal battle between the actor and director and his co-star.BBC News - 1d -
Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $400m
It Ends With Us director accuses Hollywood power couple of seeking to ‘destroy’ him with false claims in latest filing. Justin Baldoni has sued Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, claiming that the ...The Guardian - 1d -
Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni's lawyers issue new statements amid legal battle
Lawyers for Blake Lively have issued a new statement in support of the actress amid her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.ABC News - Jan. 8 -
Blake Lively’s case against Justin Baldoni prompts questions about the role of PR in Hollywood
Posts dissecting how PR tactics may have been used in previous high profile cases have gained millions of views online.NBC News - Jan. 2 -
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni both file new lawsuits in harassment row
The two actors starred together in It Ends With Us, which was released last summer.BBC News - Jan. 1 -
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni file lawsuits over It Ends With Us
Federal action comes hours after film’s director sued New York Times for libel over story about Lively’s accusations. The actor Blake Lively has sued the director of It Ends With Us, Justin ...The Guardian - Jan. 1
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