Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has revealed the actor’s intentions to file a countersuit against Blake Lively.
Just days before Christmas, Lively dropped a legal complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star accusing him of sexual harassment and an alleged ‘social manipulation’ campaign to ‘destroy’ her reputation – with text messages allegedly proving this also included in the complaint.
Other allegations detailed in the complaint include Baldoni adding ‘improvised gratuitous sexual content and/or scenes involving nudity into the film’, comments on the star’s weight and her deceased father, whom she claims Baldoni said he’d ‘spoken to’, and a ‘shocking lack of boundaries’ from the actor and producer Jamey Heath.
In the wake of Baldoni’s reported behavior on set, Lively also set out a long list of demands that he and others had to follow.
Some of these demands included ‘no more showing of nude videos or images of women, including the producer’s wife’ to Lively and those around her.
The Gossip Girl alum requested that ‘a representative on set at all times and with a monitor during scenes involving nudity, sexual activity, or violence with Mr Baldoni’ as well.
Lively told The New York Times: “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.”
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has denied the allegations, calling them ‘categorically false’, and has now revealed that the director intends on filing a countersuit, which he says is ‘a deliberate pursuit of truth’.
Blake Lively recently filed a bombshell suit against her It Ends With Us co-star (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
Speaking to PEOPLE, Freedman said the suit will highlight Lively’s alleged falsities.
“This lawsuit will uncover and expose the false and destructive narrative that was intentionally engineered by a trusted media publication who relied upon nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact checking process to confirm the validity of these texts,” he said.
He continued: “There is an insurmountable collection of authentic evidence, including timelines and communications, which have not been doctored or spliced without context, unlike the altered [New York Times] story that ran on Saturday, December 21st 2024.
“The truth will not only come to light — it will dismantle the illusions propped up by those who believe themselves untouchable.”
Freedman also told Deadline: “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.
Justin Baldoni has denied all the allegations he’s facing (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
“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.”
Dozens of famous faces have since spoken out in support of Lively, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover.
Amber Heard, who underwent a widely publicised defamation trial against her ex Johnny Depp, also spoke about the complaint, telling NBC News that she ‘saw this firsthand’.
She said: “Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’
“I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
Topics: News, Celebrity, Film and TV, Blake Lively, Hollywood
Ryan Reynolds allegedly carried out a noteworthy move against actor and director Justin Baldoni months before Blake Lively filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment.
Lively claimed the harassment took place while she and Baldoni were working together on the set of It Ends With Us, which was released in theaters in August.
There were rumors of conflict between the two stars at the time, however Lively has now alleged that the situation got so bad that a meeting had to take place to address issues which had ‘nearly derailed production of the film’.
Lively made a series of accusations about Baldoni in her lawsuit (Sony Pictures Releasing)
The complaint accuses Baldoni of showing ‘nude videos or images of women’ to Lively and improvising numerous kisses during one of their scenes together.
“Mr. Baldoni insisted on shooting the full scene over and over again, well beyond what would have been required on an ordinary set, and without advance notice or consent,” the suit claims.
Baldoni has denied the claims, with his lawyer Bryan Freedman describing them as ‘categorically false’.
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” Freedman said in a statement.
Among the court documents surrounding the lawsuit includes a text message exchange between Baldoni and his publicist, Jennifer Abel, which indicated that Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds had taken action against the director in May 2024, after filming on It Ends With Us had wrapped.
Ryan Reynolds allegedly blocked Baldoni on Instagram (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Baldoni appeared to realize that Reynolds had blocked him on Instagram.
In a conversation with Abel which has been cited in Lively’s legal complaint, Baldoni said: “We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out. Just want you guys to have a plan. Plans make me feel more at ease.”
In the lawsuit, Lively claimed: “As early as May 2024, Mr. Baldoni told his team that they needed a plan to get ahead of the claims against him, in the event they were to go public.”
At the time of writing (December 23), neither Lively nor Reynolds follow Baldoni on Instagram.
Freedman has claimed Lively’s complaint is a ‘desperate attempt’ to fix a ‘negative reputation’ which came about through ‘her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions’.
UNILAD has contacted representatives for Baldoni and Reynolds for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage via Getty/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Topics: Hollywood, Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, Celebrity, Film and TV
Ryan Reynolds has broken his silence after his wife Blake Lively made sexual harassment claims against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
Lively and Baldoni starred alongside each other in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, with the latter also being the movie’s director.
Their relationship has been far from smooth sailing however, with speculation mounting surrounding the pair’s alleged ‘friction’, while Lively also found herself being slammed online during the film’s press tour.
Lively has since filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, with the Gossip Girl star accusing her co-star of sexual harassment – which the Baldoni camp categorically denies – and ‘other behaviors that were shocking and emotional distressing’, as per the complaint.
Reynolds was mentioned in the lawsuit as having attending a meeting where Lively laid down 30 demands for Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath in order for filming to resume following claims of a ‘hostile work environment’.
And now the Deadpool star has broken his silence following Lively’s allegations going public.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are raising money for charity this Christmas (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Reynolds has revealed he and Lively are raising money for the SickKids Foundation, with a campaign taking place on December 24.
The Hospital for Sick Children, based in Toronto, Canada, hopes to improve the lives and health of infants across Canada.
The actor stated he and his wife would match all donations up to $500,000, which should make a huge difference this holiday season.
“Donate before midnight December 24th and Ryan and Blake will match all donations up to $500,000,” Reynolds wrote on his Instagram Stories.
“This is our 8th YEAR doing the Ugly Sweater Campaign and this might be the best one yet. Only a couple of days left… Let’s go,” the Deadpool star added in the caption.
Many others of Lively’s close inner circle have spoken out amid the lawsuit, including her sister Robyn.
“It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister,” Robyn penned on Instagram.
The statement continued: “She is one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know. Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions.
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
“The ‘truth’ in the tabloids is hardly ever what you think. But honesty prevails. Today is a good day. My gratitude is boundless for your kindness here and consideration for my sister.
“I’m so proud of her. Proud that she has handled herself with such grace and didn’t cave, that she didn’t allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies. I hope this gives others the strength to do the same.”
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni as well as his company Wayfarer Studios, told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”
Featured Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM/Sony Pictures
Topics: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Baldoni, Film and TV
Court documents outlining Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni have offered insight as to why the Gossip Girl star mentioned her children in the case.
News of Lively’s lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star emerged last week when a complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department saw her accuse Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment during their time filming the movie, which was released earlier this year.
Blake Lively has issued a series of accusations against Justin Baldoni (Katie Jones/Beauty Inc via Getty Images)
Lively has made a series of accusations against Baldoni, including that he allegedly pressured her to carry out scenes in which she was ‘mostly nude’, and in one scene improvised numerous kisses and insisted on shooting the full scene ‘over and over again’.
The actor also accuses Baldoni of launching a ‘smear campaign’ against her; one which she claims impacted her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their four children.
Offering further insight into the allegations which relate to Lively’s children, the court documents state: “Worst of all, however, has been the impact on their young children, who have been traumatized, and emotionally uprooted in ways that have substantially impacted their well-being.”
“Mr. Reynolds, too, has been affected mentally, physically, and professionally by his wife and children’s pain,” the documents allege.
Elsewhere in the filing, Lively makes reference more specifically to her one-year-old son, Olin.
Lively welcomed Olin shortly before filming on It Ends With Us began, and she has now claimed in the documents that he became at risk while on set with her.
The reason why Lively mentioned Olin is because both he and Lively herself caught Covid-19 while on set, which the actor has claimed was due to a lack of protections.
The couple welcomed their fourth child in February 2023 (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
The documents allege that Lively ‘expressed her upset’ that neither Baldoni nor Jamey Heath, the chief executive officer of Wayfarer Studios, had told her she had been exposed to Covid-19, and claim: “Instead of acknowledging responsibility and committing to safety moving forward, they expressed upset over production days missed and resulting costs.”
“Ms. Lively was told by another producer that Wayfarer did not have insurance coverage for COVID,” the documents add. “Mr. Baldoni deliberately withheld from Ms. Lively that she had been exposed to COVID. Both Ms. Lively and her infant child contracted COVID from the outbreak.”
As a result of Lively and Olin’s exposure, as well as other alleged incidents, Lively decided to lay out a list of conditions that were to be met if she was to continue working on the movie.
Lively presented the list when production resumed after the WGA and SAG strikes, and she also included it in her legal filing.
The incident involving her youngest child was referenced in the list, which stated: “If BL and/or her infant is exposed to COVID again, BL must be provided with immediate notice as soon as Wayfarer or any other producers become aware of such exposure, without her needing to uncover days later herself.”
Baldoni has denied the claims made against him (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership)
Bryan Freedman, who is representing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and all its representatives, has responded to Lively’s allegations to describe them as ‘categorically false’.
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” he said, while also accusing Lively of using the complaint as an attempt to ‘fix’ a ‘negative reputation’.
Featured Image Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty/Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Celebrity
Blake Lively’s sister has broken her silence after the actor filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
The actors starred alongside each other in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, with Baldoni also acting as the movie’s director.
Shortly after the movie’s release, speculation surrounding the pair’s alleged ‘friction’ arose, while Lively also found herself being slammed online during the film’s press tour.
Lively has since filed a lawsuit against her co-star, with the Gossip Girl star accusing Baldoni of ‘other behaviors that were shocking and emotional distressing’, as per the complaint.
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni (Katie Jones/Beauty Inc via Getty Images)
Lively also accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment – something the Baldoni camp categorically denies.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni as well as Wayfarer Studios, told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”
Lively’s sister Robyn initially shared a short statement on her Instagram story following Blake’s lawsuit, reading: “FINALLY justice for my sister @BlakeLively.”
She has since shared a longer response. She took to Instagram to share a screenshot of the New York Times article that detailed what Lively is claiming in the lawsuit.
“It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister,” Robyn penned.
“It also highlights the truth and what really happened, what she actually endured during the filming of It Ends With Us.”
Robyn and Blake pictured together in 2022 (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
In part, the statement continued: “She is one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know. Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions.
“The ‘truth’ in the tabloids is hardly ever what you think. But honesty prevails. Today is a good day. My gratitude is boundless for your kindness here and consideration for my sister.
“I’m so proud of her. Proud that she has handled herself with such grace and didn’t cave, that she didn’t allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies. I hope this gives others the strength to do the same.”
