Getty/Nathan Congleton
On Friday, December 20th, news broke that actor Blake Lively had filed a legal complaint against her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni. The complaint contained allegations of sexual harassment and a “multi-teared” retaliatory social media campaign to “destroy” her coordinated by a crisis PR team.
An explosive New York Times exposé containing leaked text messages between Baldoni and his PR team seemingly supported the actor’s claim that an elaborate PR takedown had resulted in an avalanche of bad press during her promotional tour for It Ends With Us. The article contained subpoenaed text messages between Baldoni and his publicists. At the time of writing, it has been a week since Lively’s lawsuit went public and already, Baldoni is facing mounting fallout from Hollywood, and his legal problems are mounting.
Who Is Named In Blake Lively’s Legal Complaint?
Justin Baldoni is one of several in Blake Lively’s legal complaint which names James Heath, the CEO of production company Wayfarer Studios and lead producer on the film and publicists Melissa Nathan and her agency The Agency Group, Jennifer Abel, Baldoni’s publicist and her agency RWA Communications and Jed Wallace and his agency Street Relations Inc.
Melissa Nathan is a crisis PR expert who worked for Johnny Depp during his successful defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. There are also between 1-100 ‘does’ accused in the case. “Does” is a legal term used to describe a range of anonymous parties.
All of the accused stringently deny Lively’s claims. Baldoni’s PR team have said the text messages only outlined scenario planning only and that the described activity would only have been enacted had Lively made complaints about Baldoni that she had flagged in a private meeting with Wayfarer studios, Baldoni and her husband Ryan Reynolds, public.
In a statement shared with multiple outlets, including Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, and US Weekly, Baldoni’s legal representative Bryan Freedman has called the allegations “shameful”, “serious and categorically false.”
Despite this and the number of other people named in the case, Baldoni appears to bear the brunt of the accusations and has faced backlash in Hollywood and mounting legal problems.
Here is a timeline of the fallout for Justin Baldoni so far.
He Has Been Dropped By His Agency
According to The Hollywood Reporter Justin Baldoni’s agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME), which represents Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, dropped Baldoni just hours after Lively’s complaint went public.
His Former Publicist, Steph Jones, Is Suing Him
Justin Baldoni will undoubtedly need new PR representation during this period, but if he’s hoping to draw from a roller-dex of previous contacts, he’ll have little luck.
Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones, has filed a lawsuit against him, his company and his current publicity team for breach of contract. As reported by Variety Jones and her public relations group, Joneswork, were working on a several-year contract with Baldoni that required him to pay her $25,000 a month. Instead, he dropped her firm in August 2024. According to The New York Times Jones is also suing her former Joneswork employee, Jennifer Abel and Baldoni’s broader PR team.
Jones alleges that Able was fired after stealing documents to start her own PR company. Publicist Melissa Nathan and Baldoni’s extended PR team are also named in her case. She accuses the PR campaign against Lively was implemented behind her back and that they are now trying to shift blame to her. “To this day, Abel and Nathan continue to point the finger falsely at Jones now that their misconduct is coming to light and to defame and attack Jones in the industry”, the complaint reads.
His Podcast Co-Host Liz Plank Has Left Him
Baldoni has co-hosted a podcast The Man Enough with journalist Liz Plank and Jamey Heath, the CEO of his production company Wayfarer, who is also named in Lively’s complaint, since 2021. The podcast explores “what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people. Following the complaint Plank posted on Instagram to her 631,000 followers explaining that she would no longer be appearing on The Man Enough podcast.
“I’m writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representative inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting The Man Enough podcast. Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for me, and for making this show what it was.” “As this chapter closes for me, I remain committed to the values we’ve built together. Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being by my side for the last four years.”
Plank did not explicitly refer to the allegations against Baldoni and Heath directly but added:
“We all deserve better, and I know that together, we can create it. I will have more to share as soon as I continue to process everything that has happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds people standing in their way accountable.”
He Has Been Stripped Of His Voices of Solidarity Award
In December 9th, Baldoni was given the “Voices of Solidarity” from non-profit organisation Vital Voices. This global not-for-profit focuses on the empowerment of women. The award celebrates “remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls.”
As reported by BBC, the organisation announced on December 23rd that the award would be rescinded following Lively’s allegations of “abhorrent conduct” that was contrary to the values Vital Voices hold.
At the time, Baldoni posted on Instagram that he was “deeply honoured and humbled” by the award. “My hope is that we can teach boys, while they are still young, that vulnerability is strength, sensitivity is a superpower, and empathy makes them powerful,” he wrote.
Elizabeth Day Deleted Podcast Episode With Justin Baldoni
In December, Elizabeth Day, the host of the popular podcast How To Fail, interviewed Justin Baldoni. The podcast notes described Justin Baldoni as “intelligent, empathetic and unbelievably eloquent.” Day shared a statement to Instagram on Tuesday explaining that she had chosen to delete the December 4th interview.
“I have made the decision to remove the recent How To Fail interview with Justin Balondi from all platforms while the distressing allegations made against him in Blake Lively’s recent lawsuit are fully investigated. Every individual has a right to a safe workplace. Every woman has the right to dignity in that workplace. Every form of abuse should be called out and salute individuals who have the courage to do so. Elizabeth.”
As reported by TMZ, Baldoni had discussed his adult ADHD diagnosis in the episode and shared his “near breakdown” during the production of It Ends With Us.
It Ends With Us Cast Members Have Condemned His Alleged Behaviour
Onlookers were bemused during the press tour for It Ends With Us that the director and lead actor in the film didn’t take any photos with his co-star or the book’s author, Colleen Hoover. They also noted that Baldoni’s colleagues had unfollowed him on Instagram. Now, cast members are rallying around Blake Lively.
In a statement to Today, Jenny Slate, who played Justin Baldoni’s character Ryle’s sister in the movie, voiced her support of Lively.
“As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation. Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her. What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery and I stand by her side.”
Star Brandon Skenlar, who played Lively’s character Lily Bloom’s love interest in the film, also expressed his support for the investigation published in The New York Times, writing: “For the love of god, read this.”
It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, along with a host of other celebrities, including Amber Heard, Amy Schumer, and her Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants castmates, is also gathering around Blake Lively.
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