Lively and Baldoni both file new lawsuits in harassment row

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, both well-known actors, have recently found themselves in a legal battle following their collaboration in the film It Ends With Us, which premiered last summer. The situation escalated when Blake filed a lawsuit in New York against Justin and his publicity team, alleging that she experienced sexual harassment during the filming process. She claims that they attempted to tarnish her reputation, which has led her to seek legal recourse. In response, Justin Baldoni has also taken legal action, filing a lawsuit against The New York Times. He accuses the newspaper of collaborating with Blake to damage his reputation and of ignoring evidence that contradicts her allegations. The New York Times has firmly denied these claims, stating that their reporting was thorough and responsible. Blake's lawsuit mirrors many of the accusations she made in a civil rights complaint filed in California back in December. In her legal action, she is seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress, although she has not specified an exact amount. Justin's lawsuit against The New York Times includes serious allegations of libel and fraud. He asserts that the journalists worked with Blake to harm his reputation and did not provide his team with adequate time to respond to what he describes as a shocking story. He claims that the newspaper relied on selectively chosen and altered communications that were taken out of context to mislead the public. The New York Times has responded by stating that their report was based on a comprehensive review of thousands of original documents, including text messages and emails that were quoted accurately in the article. They also mentioned that they published Justin's full statement in response to the allegations. Following the publication of the article, Justin was dropped by his talent agency, which has added to the seriousness of his claims. His lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks damages amounting to 250 million dollars. Justin's lawyer has stated that the newspaper played a role in a smear campaign aimed at reviving Blake's struggling public image. Interestingly, Justin's lawsuit includes many of the same text messages and communications that Blake used to accuse his team of orchestrating a social media campaign against her. In her own lawsuit, Blake alleges that Justin and his team attacked her public image after a meeting where she addressed the ongoing sexual harassment and other troubling behavior she experienced. During this meeting, she reportedly laid out 30 specific demands related to the alleged misconduct to ensure the film's production could continue. These demands included requests to avoid discussing private parts on set and to refrain from adding any intimate scenes that she had not previously approved. Blake's legal team has accused Justin and his film studio, Wayfarer, of orchestrating a multi-layered plan to damage her reputation, which involved manipulating social media and using friendly journalists to promote certain narratives. Justin's lawyers have previously stated that Blake's allegations are categorically false and that they had to hire a crisis manager because Blake threatened to derail the film unless her demands were met. The film It Ends With Us, which was released last summer, features Blake as a woman in a relationship with a charming yet abusive boyfriend, portrayed by Justin. The movie is based on a best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, who has shared that her inspiration came from the domestic abuse her mother endured.