Blake Lively Files Second Lawsuit as Justin Baldoni Sues New York Times

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As a long-time advocate for women’s rights and a survivor of workplace harassment myself, I can’t help but feel deeply saddened by the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over allegations of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends with Us.”

I have faced my own share of adversity in the entertainment industry, and I know all too well the fear, anxiety, and isolation that comes with speaking out against powerful figures. It takes immense courage to stand up for oneself and challenge the status quo, especially when the stakes are so high.

Blake Lively’s decision to file a second lawsuit against Baldoni and his associates is a testament to her resilience and determination to seek justice. Her allegations of sexual harassment, toxic work environment, and retaliation are all too common in Hollywood, and it’s heartening to see her take a stand against this behavior.

I hope that Lively’s courage inspires other women in the industry to speak out and demand better treatment. It is only through collective action that we can create real change and hold those who abuse their power accountable.

As for Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times, I believe it is a misguided attempt to silence Lively and deflect attention from the serious allegations against him. If he truly believes in his innocence, he should welcome an investigation into these claims rather than trying to discredit the messenger.

In the end, I have faith that truth will prevail, and justice will be served for all parties involved. As a fellow survivor, I stand with Blake Lively and support her fight for justice and accountability in Hollywood.

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder if Baldoni and The New York Times are planning to collaborate on their own movie – “It Ends with a Lawsuit.” I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

As I step into 2025, I find myself once more engaging in legal proceedings against my director and co-star, Justin Baldoni, from our film “It Ends with Us.” Coincidentally, he has also filed a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times regarding their coverage of my initial complaint. For now, we await the official court dates to be set.

Back in December 2024, Lively took legal action against Baldoni by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Commission. This was due to her claims that Baldoni sexually harassed her, created an unpleasant work atmosphere on the set of It Ends with Us, and furthermore, orchestrated a malicious campaign to damage her reputation in collaboration with his publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis manager Melissa Nathan.

This recently submitted lawsuit, filed in federal courts of New York, intensifies these accusations and specifically aims at Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios. It also demands both “punitive” and “compensatory” compensation from the accused parties, which Lively claims have caused her emotional turmoil, significant distress, and financial losses.

According to her lawyers, speaking out led the actress to face additional reprisals and attacks in a statement given to the Daily Mail.

According to the lawsuit filed by Ms. Lively, Wayfarer and their partners are accused of breaking both federal and California state laws by punishing her for speaking up about sexual harassment and safety issues at work. Consequently, they must now face the consequences of their actions in a federal courtroom.

In addition to the lawsuit being filed in New York, where most of the actions detailed in the complaint occurred, Lively’s legal team also reserves the option to initiate additional proceedings in suitable courts and locations, consistent with legal requirements.

Baldoni’s Times Suit Claims Ignorance of Lively’s Complaints

As a lifelong consumer of news and someone who has had my own fair share of personal communications misrepresented or distorted by media outlets, I find Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times deeply concerning. It appears that in this case, the newspaper may have been in collusion with Lively, selectively choosing and altering his communications to create a narrative that was not only misleading but also damaging to the reputation of the person involved. This is a troubling development, as it undermines trust in journalism and sets a dangerous precedent for future reporting. As someone who has had my own experiences with media manipulation, I can empathize with Baldoni’s frustration and feel that such practices should not be tolerated in our industry. It is essential that journalists uphold the highest ethical standards of accuracy and fairness, and it is troubling to see an institution like The New York Times potentially falling short of these ideals.

The lawsuit additionally asserts that Baldoni and his team were unaware of the criteria for resuming filming on It Ends with Us, which Lively had provided to Wayfarer. It contends that Baldoni and Wayfarer only became aware of this list when it was mentioned in Lively’s initial California Civil Rights Commission complaint. The requirements allegedly refer to upsetting incidents that never transpired.

Regarding Baldoni’s lawsuit, Lively’s legal team stated to Deadline that “This lawsuit has no impact on the assertions made in Ms. Lively’s California Civil Rights Department complaint or her federal complaint, which were submitted today.

Until December 21, 2024, both Baldoni and Lively were managed by the skilled agency William Morris Endeavor. However, WME chose to part ways with Baldoni on that date. Despite this change, they will continue to manage Lively, as well as her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who is reported to have criticized Baldoni in a meeting on January 4, 2024. During this encounter, Lively claims she presented her list of conditions.

A number of peers of Lively’s in the Hollywood industry have stood up for her, with director Paul Feig, her co-stars from the movie “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, author Colleen Hoover (of “It Ends with Us”), and even Kate Beckinsale – who has not personally met Lively – expressing support. Beckinsale, in particular, asserts that she understands all too well how studios try to mute and vilify women who voice their opinions.

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2025-01-02 16:32