Justin Baldoni to File Suit Against Blake Lively That Will ‘Shock Everyone’
Justin Baldoni is planning to file a countersuit against Blake Lively after her shocking sexual harassment allegation against him, his lawyer has claimed.
Baldoni, who was sued by his It Ends With Us co-star Lively last Friday for allegedly sexually harassing her on set then using a PR team to tarnish her reputation, has indicated through his lawyer that he plans to take his own legal action against her in the coming days.
“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman told Deadline Saturday.
Freedman continued: “It will be supported by real evidence and tell the true story. In over 30 years of practicing, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior intentionally fueled through media manipulation.”
The reported countersuit will allege Lively’s PR team smeared Baldoni and not the other way around. This included the actress' own publicist planting stories about Baldoni to make him look bad, according to the Daily Mail.
It also reportedly will claim that WhatsApp messages from Baldoni’s team “have been presented out of context in a way that alters their meaning.”
Lively’s rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The move comes after Lively accused Baldoni in a 80-page suit filed with the California Civil Rights Department of misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us and then waging a smear campaign against her during its promotion. In the suit, she alleges that Baldoni pressured her to remove her coat in front of members of crew and other actors to reveal a low-cut dress she was wearing to easily breastfeed her baby daughter.
Lively also claims that her co-star and director contacted her fitness trainer without her consent or awareness, and implied he wanted her to lose weight.
She told The New York Times that Baldoni used “sinister retaliatory tactics” to smear her.
“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 said.
Lively’s suit names Baldoni, his film studio, Wayfarer Studios, Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath, and Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel.
Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency, WME, after Lively’s claims. He and Freedman have denied the allegations in Lively’s suit, writing in a statement that it is “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
His lawyer further claims that Lively’s suit is an attempt to repair her image after her public favor waned this year after she received bad press during the promotional campaign for the film.
Leslie Sloane sent a statement to the Daily Beast. It read: “I was contacted on 8/11 by Sara Nathan (Melissa Nathan’s sister) forwarding an anonymous tip that Page Six received, regarding allegations of HR complaints on the set of It Ends with Us.
“After that, I was contacted by various press outlets asking about allegations of HR complaints. When contacted, I responded to press questions by referring them to Wayfarer or Sony for information regarding HR complaints.
“It’s clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are suggesting that I originated press stories about HR complaints on set, which is false. Please read Ms. Lively’s Complaint and the Complaint filed by Jonesworks LLC and Stephanie Jones, which provides the details of the campaign against my client.”