A lawsuit filed in New York state court in Manhattan by a former publicist of Justin Baldoni alleges that the actor and his production company, Wayfarer, engaged in a smear campaign against Blake Lively. The lawsuit claims that Baldoni and Wayfarer, in collaboration with publicists, attempted to damage Lively's reputation amid concerns of on-set behavior allegations during the release of the film 'It Ends With Us.'
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and names a former employee, Jennifer Abel, who is accused of stealing sensitive business documents and client leads. Abel allegedly worked with a crisis management expert, Melissa Nathan, to influence media content detrimental to Lively and the publicist.
Text messages retrieved from Abel's company phone are included in the lawsuit, shedding light on the alleged campaign against Lively. In response to the lawsuit, Abel sent an email emphasizing her desire to maintain a positive relationship with the publicist despite the circumstances.
Justin Baldoni's attorney has refuted the claims made by Lively, stating that the allegations are false and sensationalized. The attorney mentioned that a crisis manager was hired proactively due to demands and threats from Lively during the film's production.
'It Ends With Us,' based on Colleen Hoover's novel, exceeded box office expectations upon its release, garnering significant sales. Baldoni, known for his work in 'Jane the Virgin' and 'Five Feet Apart,' has been embroiled in controversy following the allegations made by Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, regarding on-set behavior.
