Justin Baldoni Sued By Former Publicist After Blake Lively Complaint

As a journalist, I have had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile stories, but none quite like this one. The allegations against Ian Baldoni and the subsequent support for Blake Lively are both shocking and heartening.

After Blake Lively‘s accusations towards Justin Baldoni, it appears that his ex-publicist is now pursuing a legal course of action as well.

In a court filing at New York’s Supreme Court on December 24, actor-director from “It Ends With Us”, his production company Wayfarer Studios, as well as publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan, have been named as defendants by Stephanie Jones.

Based on TopMob News’ review of the documents, Jones alleges that Abel, who was an employee at her company Jonesworks until this summer (as per LinkedIn), and Nathan were secretly plotting for months to publicly and privately discredit Jones and Jonesworks. The accusation also includes breaking several contracts, inciting contractual breaches, and stealing clients and business opportunities.

Without Jones knowing, there was a covert alliance formed among Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch a harsh public defamation of Baldoni’s film colleague. Jones asserts that after the alleged incident involving Lively, which she mentioned in her recent court filing, this scheme was used as a chance to strain the relationship between Jones and Baldoni, and to publicly accuse Jones of masterminding the smear campaign—a campaign Jones had no awareness or involvement with.

TopMob News has reached out to defendants named in the lawsuit and has not heard back.

Jones alleges that Abel and Nathan continue to point the finger at her to this day.

In the lawsuit, it’s stated that “Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer associated with Jonesworks, have rejected their legal commitments towards Jonesworks and dismissed Jones’ attempts to settle this disagreement privately through arbitration.” The defendants continue to assail Jones, and they have refused any attempts to resolve these matters outside of court.

The legal document states that the intention of this lawsuit is twofold: firstly, to halt the persistent wrongdoing of the defendants; secondly, to provide reparation to both Jones and Jonesworks for the harm caused by the defendants’ actions and their devised plan.

In a Dec. 24 statement to TopMob News, Jones’ lawyer Kristin Tahler echoed the lawsuit sentiments.

Over the past few months, I’ve been closely following this group who have manipulated and belittled Stephanie Jones and her company, not just for financial profit but also to settle old grudges and more recently to divert attention from their dishonorable slander against Blake Lively. This lawsuit is an essential move to halt the defendants’ unscrupulous behavior and allow Stephanie to restore the well-earned reputation she has built over decades, a reputation these defendants have tarnished for their own ill intentions.

According to The New York Times, Lively’s formal complaint lodged with the California Civil Rights Department before potential legal action, alleges that Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment during the filming of “It Ends With Us” and subsequently participated in a damaging campaign against her. However, his legal team has disputed these accusations.

In a statement made on December 21st to the New York Times, lawyer Bryan Freedman asserted that these accusations are entirely untrue, excessively sensationalized, and deliberately malicious, with the primary purpose of causing public harm and perpetuating a damaging media narrative. He further stated that Reese Lively’s legal action represents yet another desperate attempt to remedy her unfavorable image in public perception.

TopMob News acquired a grievance lodged by Lively, which contained exchanges of text messages among Baldoni, Abel, and Nathan, said to be about an alleged smear campaign against her.

It’s been reported by Variety that the legal team representing the former Gossip Girl star revealed on December 23rd that they acquired the texts through a subpoena issued to Jonesworks LLC.

Freedman, who represents Wayfarer, Abel, and Nathan, informed the media outlet that none of his clients have been issued a subpoena regarding the issue, and he intends to file a lawsuit against Jones.

In a Dec. 21 interview with the NYT, Lively expressed her hope that her lawsuit would uncover hidden, manipulative tactics used against those who speak out about misconduct, and serve as protection for others who might face similar targeting.

Keep reading for more reactions to Lively’s legal complaint…

Following the legal claim by Blake Lively alleging sexual harassment and a subsequent smear campaign against her from Justin Baldoni during the filming of “It Ends With Us”, Colleen Hoover, the author of the book the movie is based on, expressed a supportive message towards the actress. However, Baldoni’s lawyer has since refuted these allegations.

On her Instagram Stories, Colleen expressed gratitude to @blakelively by saying, “From the moment we first met, you’ve been honest, kind, supportive, and patient. I appreciate you just being you. Keep on being who you are – authentic, strong, and unwavering.

Blake’s sister, fellow actress Robyn Lively, also weighed in.

Robyn asked everyone on Instagram (Dec 23) to thoroughly read an article from The New York Times, which she linked to a detailed account of Blake’s complaint submitted to the California Civil Rights Department. This piece exposes those responsible for the cruel and underhanded smear campaign that targeted her sister.

In a subsequent remark, the actress who played the lead in Teen Witch pointed out that it similarly underscores or brings attention to the kind of environment Blake was reportedly subjected to while working on It Ends With Us.

The director of A Simple Favor that Blake starred in spoke up on December 22nd, stating, “I’ve worked with Blake on two films now, and let me tell you, she is incredibly professional, creative, collaborative, gifted, and kind. It’s truly unfair that she was targeted by this smear campaign. I find it dreadful that she had to endure such treatment.

On December 22nd, the comedian expressed her backing for the former Gossip Girl star, posting on her Instagram Story, “I trust Blake.

Not long after Blake’s grievance became known, the Goop founder posted a picture of Blake Brown’s hair company (The Town) on her Instagram Story, stating, “I’ve just put it on my Christmas wish list.

Blake’s close friends and co-stars from “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” wrote a unified statement on Instagram, published on December 22, expressing their support for her as she battles against the alleged efforts aimed at tarnishing her reputation.

Bart Johnson expressed a heartfelt support for his sister-in-law in response to a New York Times Instagram post that discussed the submission and their own probe into the backstage chaos, by making this comment.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve always been in the know, and let me tell you, there were complaints lodged against him during the filming of High School Musical – long before any public feud erupted. The cast stopped following him for a reason, and it’s essential to educate yourself rather than spreading misinformation. His PR team was nothing short of brilliant, manipulating the narrative to tarnish her reputation at all costs. If you truly want to understand the situation, read the article, delve into their text message exchanges, and analyze his PR campaign strategy. Remember, no one is perfect, but the public was deceived in this instance.

Shawn Levy, who often works with Ryan Reynolds, posted about the New York Times probe into the defamation campaign on his Instagram Stories. He wrote, “I’m honored to consider Blake Lively as my friend.

In the wake of the disclosure about Lively’s filing, Amber Heard took time to ponder over her own ordeal of dealing with intense hostility online during the defamation trial that Johnny Depp instigated against her.

As someone deeply invested in the digital realm, I can’t help but echo the sentiment shared by the esteemed Aquaman: social media often embodies the ancient adage, “A falsehood can circle the globe before truth even laces up its shoes.” This unsettling reality unfolded right before my eyes, and I was left both horrified and disheartened by its devastating impact.

Brandon Sklenar, the actor who portrayed Atlas Corrigan, Blake’s romantic interest in “It Ends With Us,” conveyed a straightforward and encouraging message.

As an ardent fan, I recently shared a screenshot from the former Gossip Girl star’s Instagram Stories on December 23rd. Over a linked article, he had written, “For the love of God, read this.” He even tagged her with a heart emoticon afterward.

As a connoisseur of all things lifestyle-related, I find myself compelled to express my perspective on the troubling accusations that have surfaced recently. In this case, I’m referring to the claims that have been made against a certain individual who I had the pleasure of sharing the screen with in a past production. As his sister’s character and best friend of Blake’s, I feel it is important for me to voice my thoughts on this matter.

Speaking as a fellow castmate and friend, I stand with Blake Lively as she confronts those accused of orchestrating a smear campaign against her reputation. This statement was made on December 23rd to Today. Blake is not only an influential leader, but also a reliable friend and source of emotional support for me, as well as many others who admire and care for her deeply.

The information unveiled concerning the assault on Blake is incredibly ominous, unsettling, and poses a significant danger, the alum of Parks and Recreation stated. I applaud my friend, appreciate her courage, and pledge my support for her.

2024-12-24 21:18

Read More