Justin Baldoni has filed a counter lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of trying to destroy his career and livelihood. The lawsuit alleges civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. This comes after Lively made allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni during the production of “It Ends With Us.” The lawsuit seeks $400 million in damages and also names Lively’s publicist and her PR firm.
Lively’s legal team has responded, calling Baldoni’s counterclaim a typical tactic used by abusers to discredit victims. They deny the claims and say Lively was asked by Sony to oversee the film’s distribution, which was successful. Baldoni’s attorney claims Lively disseminated false information to the media.
Lively’s initial complaint accused Baldoni and his studio of trying to damage her reputation, following allegations of sexual harassment. The New York Times reported on these allegations, sparking a legal battle. The new lawsuit refutes the claims made against Baldoni and paints Jones, Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane as colluding against him. The lawsuit aims to set the record straight and highlight the darker side of Hollywood.
This legal battle has led to agencies dropping Baldoni as a client and has drawn attention to issues of female treatment in the industry. “It Ends With Us” has been a surprise hit and has sparked important conversations in Hollywood. The case is ongoing, with no comment yet from Sloane’s PR company.
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