Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has a lot more to say.
Following the dismissal of a $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Leslie Sloane by the director of “It Ends With Us” on June 9, the director’s lawyer emphasized that this legal dispute is not yet resolved.
According to Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, the claim of victory by Ms. Lively and her team is misleading. He made this clarification to TopMob News on June 10 regarding the recent court decision.
In the legal documents obtained by TopMob News, Judge Lewis J. Liman decided that Baldoni and his team could not demonstrate defamation in their claim and failed to prove that Lively’s threats were wrongful extortion rather than acceptable tough negotiation or renegotiation of working conditions. Notably, the $250 million lawsuit brought against The New York Times by Baldoni was also dropped.
In summary, the judge allowed Baldoni to resubmit a revised complaint regarding tortious interference with contract (involving Reynolds and Lively) and breach of implied covenant (specifically related to Lively) by June 23. Additionally, as stated by Freedman, Baldoni’s case against Lively extends beyond the dismissed accusations of defamation and runs much deeper.
The subject at hand revolves around unfounded allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, along with a supposed smear campaign that can’t be traced because it never actually occurred – a fact that Ms. Lively’s team themselves acknowledge. However, what Ms. Lively asserts remains just as baseless today as it did yesterday. With the facts supporting our position, we press on with the same certainty we felt when this dispute was first ignited, eagerly anticipating Ms. Lively’s upcoming deposition, which I will be conducting.
In the meantime, Lively (who filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in January over emotional distress and lost income allegedly caused during the filming of “It Ends With Us”) later expressed her appreciation for the backing she received following Baldoni’s original court filing.
In a post shared on her Instagram Story on June 9th, she expressed that she, like numerous others, have experienced the distress of a counter-lawsuit, accompanied by the attempts to instill manufactured embarrassment intended to shatter us. Even though the lawsuit against me was dismissed, many individuals lack the resources needed to defend themselves.
After securing a court victory, Lively expressed that she was “even more determined than before” to champion women’s self-protection rights and proceeded to share useful resources. She ended by expressing gratitude and continued support towards those who backed her in her legal battle, saying, “I will always cherish and advocate for you.
Keep reading for the latest in the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and Lively…
Four months following the cinematic release of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively lodged a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD) against her costar Justin Baldoni and several associates on December 20, as reported by The New York Times.
In the complaint acquired by TopMob News, Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, its cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace and his company Street Relations Inc. were named as defendants.
Lively claimed in her complaint that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates retaliated against her with a complex press and digital plan after she expressed concerns about alleged misconduct on set, stating that she and other cast and crew members endured invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior from Baldoni and Heath.
The actress asserted that this alleged campaign against her caused significant damage to her personally and professionally.
The charges detailed in the complaint encompass sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to address, prevent, or rectify harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; false light invasion of privacy; and interference with prospective economic advantage.
The following day, The New York Times released an exposé detailing a counterattack smear strategy that Baldoni and his colleagues were accused of employing against Lively, with reference to her CRD complaint. In their article, they shared messages exchanged between Baldoni, Abel (his publicist), and Nathan (crisis communications specialist), which were part of the complaint. The newspaper’s website also allowed readers to review the related court documents.
“I hope my legal action sheds light on these underhanded retaliatory tactics used to damage individuals who speak out about misconduct,” Lively stated to the outlet, “and helps safeguard others who may face similar targeting.
—Reporting by Sara Ouerfelli
Following the disclosure of Lively’s complaint, Bryan Freedman – lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their representatives – firmly denounced Lively’s allegations. In a statement published on The New York Times website, he stated:
“It is regrettable that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such grave and factually incorrect accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives, as another desperate attempt to improve her damaged reputation stemming from her own statements and actions during the film’s campaign; interviews and press activities that were visible to all in real-time and unedited, allowing for public interpretation and opinion formation. These claims are entirely false, excessively sensational, and deliberately salacious with the aim of causing harm and perpetuating a narrative in the media.”
Freedman also defended Wayfarer’s choice to hire a crisis manager, explaining that this was done prior to the marketing campaign for the movie.
“The representatives of Wayfarer Studios took no proactive measures nor retaliated; instead, they responded only to incoming media inquiries to ensure accurate and fair reporting and monitored social activity,” he later added. “What is conspicuously absent from the selectively presented correspondence is evidence that there were no proactive steps taken with media or otherwise; just internal strategic discussions and private communication, which is standard practice among public relations professionals.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this:
Following the publication of an article in The New York Times on December 21st, the talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) parted ways with me. Ari Emanuel, CEO of the agency’s parent company Endeavor, confirmed this to the outlet. However, it’s important to clarify that Ryan Reynolds, my colleague and husband of Blake Lively, was not responsible for our separation, as I alleged in a lawsuit against The New York Times (more on that later).
In response to these allegations, WME—where both Ryan and Blake are represented, along with myself—issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1st. They stated unequivocally that there was no truth to my claim that Reynolds pressured my agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. My former representative was not present at this event, and neither Ryan nor Blake ever applied any pressure to drop me as a client at any time.
After Lively’s CRD filing and an article in The New York Times, several notable individuals expressed their support for Lively’s allegations against Baldoni. Notable among them was the author of ‘It Ends With Us’, Hoover, who showed her backing on Instagram Stories by posting a message praising Lively’s honesty and integrity.
Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s sister in the series, also expressed her solidarity with Lively. In a statement to Today on December 23rd, she voiced her support for Lively as she takes action against those accused of damaging her reputation. Slate praised Lively as a leader, a loyal friend, and a source of emotional support for many. She also condemned the alleged attack on Lively as disturbing and threatening, commending her bravery and standing by her side.
Brandon Sklenar, a love interest for Lively’s character in the series, shared a link to The New York Times article about the complaint and encouraged others to read it. Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn also declared their solidarity with her.
Liz Plank recently shared her decision to step down from co-hosting “The Man Enough Podcast” on Instagram. She expressed gratitude for the trust and emotional support that listeners have given her, acknowledging the special bond created through the podcast. However, she did not provide a reason for her departure, which happened shortly after Blake Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer. Plank assured her followers that she remains dedicated to the values they built together and looks forward to sharing more about her thoughts and feelings in the near future. She also reiterated her support for those who challenge injustice and hold accountable those who stand in their way.
Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s ex-publicist, and her agency Jonesworks LLC have filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, his current publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan in New York on December 24th. According to the lawsuit obtained by NBC News, defendants Abel and Nathan allegedly conspired for months to publicly and privately attack Jones and Jonesworks, breach contracts, induce contractual breaches, and steal clients and business opportunities. The defendants secretly collaborated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to launch an aggressive smear campaign against a film co-star of Baldoni’s, using the crisis as an opportunity to create tension between Jones and Baldoni, and to falsely blame Jones for the smear campaign when she had no involvement in it.
Abel, who worked at Jonesworks until last summer according to her LinkedIn profile, is accused of continuing to falsely accuse Jones now that their own misconduct is being exposed, and defaming and attacking her in the industry. The lawsuit also alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer, who are no longer Jonesworks clients, breached their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to settle the dispute privately through arbitration.
TopMob News reached out to the defendants for comment.
In a statement given to Variety on December 23rd, Lively’s lawyers revealed that they acquired the text excerpts mentioned in The New York Times article through a subpoena issued to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and their Wayfarer associates, further stated that none of his clients were served a subpoena regarding this matter. He also expressed his intent to file a lawsuit against Jones for disclosing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s attorneys without proper authorization.
Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against The New York Times Dec. 31.
In the lawsuit obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract for its article about a retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she voiced concerns about purported misconduct on set.
Saying the report was “false” and based on Lively’s CRD complaint, the plaintiffs denied the accusations and alleged messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context.
“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” the lawsuit says, “lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”
They also allege “it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.” She has denied this.
The New York Times said it plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to TopMob. “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.”
On the same day, Lively initiated a legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, his company TAG, and Abel in New York. The court documents obtained by TopMob News reveal that she is charging the defendants with various offenses including sexual harassment, retaliation, negligence, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false light invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting these actions.
The accusations made in this lawsuit were previously detailed in the CRD complaint that Lively filed earlier in the month. In response to this lawsuit, Baldoni and his associates have filed a counterclaim against The New York Times – which does not include Lively as a defendant. However, her lawyers stated to TopMob that “the lawsuit does not alter anything regarding the claims” in her CRD and federal complaints. They further explained that the premise of this lawsuit, that Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a strategy to avoid suing Baldoni, is false. As evidenced by the federal complaint filed by Lively today, this assertion is unfounded.
In their lawsuit against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team have made it clear that they intend to continue taking legal action. As the court documents indicate, there are more parties involved in this matter, and they are determined – this will not be their only lawsuit. During a January 2 interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman confirmed that they indeed plan to file a lawsuit against Lively as well.
The speculation surrounding Baldoni and Lively hasn’t ended there. For example, some social media users have suggested that Reynolds poked fun at Baldoni in his film Deadpool & Wolverine through the character Nicepool.
Reynolds has not responded to these rumors publicly; however, Baldoni’s attorney Freedman shared his thoughts on the matter. In an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show posted to YouTube on January 7, Freedman stated, “If your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make jokes about Justin Baldoni. You treat the situation seriously by filing HR complaints, raising the issue, and following a legal process. What you shouldn’t do is mock the person and turn it into a joke.
As I, a lifestyle expert, delve into the matter at hand, it’s crucial to clarify that the situation regarding Ms. Lively is far from a simple disagreement or misunderstanding. Her federal lawsuit against Wayfarer Entertainment involves substantial allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, substantiated by solid evidence.
Since the filing of this lawsuit, Ms. Lively has faced additional attacks, not out of creative differences or he said/she said squabbles, but as a direct result of her stand against unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing on a film set. This pattern of behavior from Wayfarer and their associates is not only unacceptable, but also illegal.
During this legal process, it’s essential to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are inexcusable in any workplace or industry. A common tactic employed by those accused of such misconduct is to shift blame onto the victim, implying they invited, brought on themselves, or misunderstood the intent behind the inappropriate behavior. Another tactic is to portray the offender as the victim instead of the perpetrator.
These strategies are designed to divert attention from the serious allegations and serve to trivialize them. It’s important to recognize these tactics for what they are: attempts to normalize and minimize misconduct. Rest assured, Ms. Lively’s lawyers will vigorously pursue her claims in court, and media statements do not constitute a defense against her allegations.
On January 16th, Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, Leslie Sloane (her publicist), and her firm Vision PR in New York. The lawsuit alleges that all defendants are guilty of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy through false light. Specifically, Lively and Reynolds are accused of breaching the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contractual relations, economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage. The plaintiffs deny Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her and accuse her of taking control over It Ends With Us and collaborating with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to tarnish the plaintiffs’ reputation in the media after she faced criticism for promoting the film. (Lively stated in her filings that she promoted the movie according to Sony’s marketing plan.)
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that defendants collaborated with The New York Times to release a sensational but untrue news report. The outlet maintains its report is accurate. Regarding this matter, Freedman stated to TopMob: “Either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she intentionally lied about the truth.
Lively’s legal team referred to his lawsuit as “just another instance in the script of an abuser,” stating to TopMob News, “This situation follows a familiar pattern: A woman presents solid proof of sexual misconduct and reprisal, and the perpetrator tries to shift blame onto the accuser. This tactic is often known as DARVO – Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.
She went on to charge him with responding defensively after she brought accusations against him, stating that Baldoni is attempting to change the conversation, implying that Lively took over creative control and estranged the cast from Mr. Baldoni.
It will be demonstrated,” it went on, “that both the cast members and others encountered unfavorable encounters with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Additionally, it will be revealed that Sony tasked Ms. Lively to supervise their portion of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution and became a significant hit.
Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.
In summary, instead of addressing the sexual harassment allegations, they attempted to blame the victim by saying she invited it and her clothing was responsible. However, her legal team pointed out that this approach is pathetic because it does not disprove the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s claim, and it will ultimately backfire.
In a statement, Baldoni’s lawyer unveiled exclusive footage from the set of “It Ends With Us“. The lawyer stated that the actor’s behavior caught on camera contradicts Ms. Lively’s portrayal of him directly.
In a released statement, Baldoni’s legal team explained that the particular scene was crafted to depict the two characters developing feelings for each other and yearning for closeness. It’s important to note that both actors were portraying their roles effectively, staying within the boundaries of the scene, and treating each other with respect and professionalism.
In essence, Lively’s lawyers argue that the video aligns precisely with Lively’s account in her lawsuit, as it appears that all the scenes were spontaneously created by Baldoni without any prior discussions or consents.
In a statement given to TopMob News, it was explained that the video depicts Ms. Lively leaning back and repeatedly requesting that the characters simply converse. Anyone familiar with unwanted physical contact in the workplace may identify with Ms. Lively’s obvious unease.
In simpler terms, they wrote a letter to the judge presiding over their trial, asking for Freedman, who is leading Baldoni’s legal team, to be restricted from speaking publicly about the case during the ongoing court proceedings to prevent any inappropriate behavior.
A seven-minute audio message, reportedly from Baldoni, was leaked online during the production of “It Ends With Us.” In this recording, it seems that the director discussed the film’s rooftop scene, which Lively rewrote, and mentioned a meeting with Reynolds and their mutual friend Taylor Swift where these changes were supposedly presented to him.
He shared with Lively, “It’s fantastic to have friends as imaginative as them, who just happen to be among the world’s most creative individuals. The trio of you is simply astonishing and hard to believe.
In the recording, it appears Baldoni also expressed an apology to the actress for his cool response to her script, stating, “I made a mistake. Something important about me is that I’ll acknowledge and apologize when I fall short.
Approximately one month following the submission of Lively’s official lawsuit against Baldoni, a court hearing was scheduled for March 9, 2026.
According to TopMob News’ acquired documents, Baldoni’s legal team has modified their January 16 response to the U.S. District Court lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane, adding The New York Times as a party involved in the case.
In the revised paperwork, Baldoni alleged that Lively and her associates conspired for several months and supplied untruths to The New York Times.
In a different case, not related to the $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, it was claimed that the paper selectively presented and modified communications, removing essential context, and intentionally edited them to deceive.
Baldoni set up a website detailing his legal dispute with Lively, which includes the revised complaint submitted by Baldoni’s legal team on January 31st, as well as a chronology of significant events. The timeline document reportedly contains screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni that were shared as part of the case.
The website went live a month following Freedman’s announcement that they would be publishing all text messages exchanged between the two parties.
In a January 2nd interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s lawyer expressed that they desire transparency and want all relevant documents to be made public. They believe people should form their own opinions using the available evidence, which includes receipts.
Lawyers representing Lively submitted a revised lawsuit assertion, stating that two additional female crew members from the set of “It End” had expressed discomfort due to Baldoni’s conduct on the job.
TopMob News obtained a complaint stating that Ms. Lively wasn’t the only one voicing concerns about Mr. Baldoni. The events involving Ms. Lively, as well as others, were recorded from May 2023 onwards. It is worth noting that contrary to the story the Defendants have fabricated, Mr. Baldoni acknowledged the complaints in writing at the time. He was aware that women besides Ms. Lively felt uneasy and had lodged complaints about his conduct.
In the revised lawsuit, the two potential witnesses mentioned by Lively were not explicitly named because of the risky atmosphere caused by threats, harassment, and intimidation that appears to be instigated by the defendants’ reprisal efforts.
Speaking directly to you at TopMob, I, as a passionate admirer, find myself compelled to share Freedman’s assertion. He claimed the accusations levied against [the subject] were largely empty of substantial evidence, relying heavily on unverified testimonies – or what he called “unsubstantial hearsay.” Furthermore, he suggested that the unknown individuals who supposedly corroborate her claims have mysteriously chosen to remain hidden or refrain from publicly endorsing them.
Following Baldoni’s allegations that Sloane spread “harmful tales” depicting him as a “sexual offender” and coordinating a “defamatory operation” at Lively’s behest, Sloane requested to be removed from the legal case by filing a motion for dismissal.
As a loyal follower, I can share that in the documents acquired by TopMob News, my attorney asserted that there was no substantive foundation for the allegations directed towards my client. Instead, it was claimed that she was unfairly drawn into the lawsuit as part of a clever smoke and mirrors tactic intended to divert attention away from Lively’s accusations.
Nick Shapiro, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, was recruited by Lively to provide counsel on the legal communication strategy regarding the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. This information was shared by a member of her litigation team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher with Variety on February 28th.
Shapiro, who worked for the CIA between 2013 to 2015 under President Obama, later moved on to become Visa’s vice president of worldwide security and communications, followed by Airbnb’s global head of crisis management. After spending three years at the rental company, he established his own consulting firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.
In response to a $400 million lawsuit that involves both Lively, Baldoni, and Sloane, The New York Times, currently engaged in a separate $250 million lawsuit with Baldoni, submitted a motion to remove itself from the larger legal action, according to TopMob News.
In their filing, the newspaper contended that Baldoni’s team was spinning a biased account, which has attracted much attention, yet they maintain that “The Times” should not be involved in this disagreement.
In response to a motion from The New York Times, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has agreed to postpone the discovery process at their request, as reported by TopMob News based on obtained documents.
The court granted the request for a temporary hold on the exchange of information or documents between parties, as the judge reviews the newspaper’s motion filed on February 28th.
In the document dated March 4, Liman pointed out that the New York Times provides “solid reasons” and has a “good case” for their motion to dismiss, which appears likely to be granted based on its merit.
Additionally, the judge expressed his view that Baldoni’s legal team should not face an unfair disadvantage during the court’s consideration of the upcoming motion, as a temporary stay might be imposed.
To TopMob News, a representative of the New York Times commented on the recent ruling. They expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, which they believe upholds the significant First Amendment rights involved. The court has prevented Mr. Baldoni from overwhelming The Times with discovery requests in a lawsuit that, in their opinion, should not have been filed against them.
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2025-06-10 18:20