by Blake Lively lawyers have released a statement amid the legal dispute between him and Justin Baldoni.
In a new statement released on January 7, Lively’s lawyers said: “Ms. Lively’s federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York involves serious claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, supported by specific facts. A ‘creative difference’ or ‘he said/she said’ situation one as alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and as we will demonstrate at trial, Wayfarer and its associates in illegal and retaliatory astroturfing involved against Ms. Lively for trying to protect herself and others on a movie set.”
A statement released on Lively’s behalf also claimed Baldoni’s response — He filed his lawsuit on December 31 against The New York Times — allegedly wanted to make more attacks on Ms. Lively since she came forward.
The statement continued: “As we pursue the legal process, we urge everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in all workplaces and industries. A classic tactic to get away from allegations of misconduct is to ‘blame’ the victim by suggesting they invited the behavior.” , that they brought it themselves, misunderstood their intentions or lied, the offender is really the victim.”
“These concepts normalize and trivialize allegations of serious wrongdoing,” the statement concluded. “Most importantly, media statements are not a defense to Ms. Lively’s legal claims. We will continue to litigate her claims in federal court, where the rule of law determines who prevails, not hyperbole and threats.”
The statement from Lively’s camp comes after Baldoni sued the New York Times, alleging libel and false light invasion of privacy, for publishing a story detailing Lively’s initial claims against him, including sexual harassment and an ad campaign against Lively. because he organized it “in the production of the film It”. Ends with Us,” which Baldoni also directed and starred in with Lively. The lawsuit follows Lively’s initial lawsuit, filed Dec. 20, and the subsequent lawsuit, filed Dec. 31, against Baldoni.
In response to Lively’s recent comments to “Good Morning America,” Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, said, “It’s ironic that Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni of arming the media when his team orchestrated this shit. To the New York Times We are sending the redacted documents before filing the complaint all the evidence that will show a pattern Harassment and threats to film It will come as no surprise that, consistent with her past behavior, Blake Lively used these threats against other people to communicate and get what he wanted.”
Read more about the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni below.
Lively’s initial complaint
Lively first filed a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights in late December, alleging “serious emotional distress,” when she said Baldoni and the film’s principal actors sexually harassed her and, along with Baldoni’s production company, attempted to orchestrate a smear campaign against her. .
The complaint was detailed in a New York Times article titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” The report included details of an “all-hands” meeting in January 2024 — held before filming began on “It Ends With Us,” according to the complaint — to address Lively’s workplace concerns, he added. the film’s main actors and Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, were involved.
According to the complaint, Lively said she made specific requests during that meeting to ensure a safe and professional work environment.
Lively claimed Baldoni and her production company Wayfarer Studios, which produced “It Ends With Us,” then engaged in a “social manipulation” campaign to “destroy” Lively’s reputation, according to the complaint. The complaint included alleged texts from Baldoni’s publicist to a Wayfarer publicist, who allegedly wrote to Baldoni that she wants to feel like “(Andrea Lively) can be buried” and “We can’t write it we’ll destroy it.”
Freedman Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ attorney denied the allegations.
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and deliberately defamatory in the media in an attempt to publicly offend and reframe a narrative,” Freedman said in a statement to ABC News at the time, responding to Lively’s initial complaint. He said Lively’s complaint was “another desperate attempt to repair her negative reputation, gained from her remarks and actions during the film’s campaign (…)”.
Lively was criticized during the “It Ends with Us” tour for her behavior in press interviews and for some who felt that the film did not highlight the focus of domestic violence enough.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Getty Images
Baldoni’s lawsuit against The New York Times
On December 31, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the Times for libel and false light invasion of privacy after it published the article about Lively’s complaints.
The suit alleged that the Times relied on “cherry-picking” and communication changes, including alleged text messages and emails between publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan Baldoni, details “de-contextualized and deliberately combined” to “mislead.” . .”
Baldoni is seeking $250 million in damages in the lawsuit against the Times and also listed nine other plaintiffs, including Wayfarer Studios LLC and its publicists, Abel and Nathan.
Freedman said in a statement to “GMA” that the Times “bowed to the whims and whims of two powerful ‘untouchable’ elites in Hollywood, rejecting the journalistic practices and ethics that once belonged to the prestigious publication, using doctored and manipulated texts, and deliberately rejecting them.” discuss their chosen PR narrative.”
A Times spokesperson told “GMA” they “intend to vigorously defend themselves against the lawsuit.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts. Our story was reported rigorously and responsibly,” the spokesperson continued. “It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including text messages and emails that we refer to in detail and at length in the article.”
“To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, the other subjects of the article and their representatives have not pointed out a single error,” the spokesperson said. “We also published their full statement in response to the allegations contained in the article.”
Lively has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni and other defendants
Also on Dec. 31, Lively formalized her initial complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights in a lawsuit that repeated details she previously presented in her complaint.
Lively’s lawyers said in a statement that the actress’ “decision to speak out has led to retaliation and further attacks.”
“As alleged in Ms. Lively’s federal complaint, Wayfarer and its affiliates have violated federal and California state law by alleging sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns against her,” Lively’s attorneys alleged. “The defendants will now answer for their conduct in federal court. Ms. Lively has filed this lawsuit in New York, where many of the material activities described in the complaint took place, but we reserve the right to pursue further action in other locations and jurisdictions where appropriate by law.”
Both Baldoni and Lively are seeking a jury trial.
“GMA” has reached out to Baldoni’s rep for comment on Lively’s lawsuit.
