The controversy surrounding It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has escalated, with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliatory behavior in an 80-page legal complaint.
Baldoni has vehemently denied the claims, but leaked text messages involving his publicist, Jennifer Abel, and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan have added fuel to the fire.
Lively’s Claims of a ‘Smear Campaign’
Lively, 37, alleges that Baldoni, 40, and his team orchestrated a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation after she raised concerns about workplace conditions on set. Her legal team claims the leaked messages outline strategies of “social manipulation” to discredit her.
One exchange between Abel and Nathan reportedly shows Nathan joking about “burying” Lively and discussing ways to flip the narrative against her. These texts are central to Lively’s lawsuit, which accuses Baldoni of fostering a toxic workplace and retaliating after she raised complaints.
Publicist Denies Allegations
Jennifer Abel broke her silence, defending the leaked messages and denying the existence of a smear campaign. In a statement posted to Facebook, she argued the texts were taken out of context.
“What the cherry-picked messages don’t include is that there was no ‘smear’ implemented,” Abel wrote. “No negative press was facilitated, no ‘social combat plan’ enacted. The internet did the work for us.”
Abel admitted to joking privately about online reactions to the feud and acknowledged strategizing potential responses but maintained her role was limited to managing interviews and media appearances.
Crisis Management Under Scrutiny
The leaked texts reveal discussions about monitoring social media and preparing strategies to counter negative narratives. In one exchange, Nathan remarked that she could “bury anyone,” while another joked about sending a “congratulations present” instead of a sinister package. Abel dismissed these as private jokes, emphasizing that no actions were taken against Lively.
Abel also defended her decision to stand by Baldoni, citing “evidence and facts” that allegedly counter Lively’s claims. “I made a choice to stand by my client of almost five years, who has dedicated his life to the equal treatment of others, especially women,” she stated.
Accusations of Misconduct
Lively’s legal complaint paints a troubling picture of Baldoni’s behavior on set, including allegations that he showed her explicit videos, made inappropriate comments about her weight, and created a hostile environment. Relations between the co-stars reportedly worsened during production, leading to an HR meeting in January to establish new working conditions.
The lawsuit also claims Baldoni’s crisis management team crafted strategies to discredit Lively, including framing her involvement with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as creating an “imbalance of power” on set. Messages suggest Baldoni encouraged leveraging negative press against Lively, including her perceived lack of focus on domestic abuse—the core theme of the film—in promotional interviews.
Legal and PR Battles Heat Up
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has dismissed Lively’s allegations as “categorically false” and accused her of attempting to deflect attention from her own negative press. He claimed Lively and her representatives planted false stories about Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, even before the film’s marketing campaign began.
In response, Lively denied planting stories and stated, “I hope my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct.”
A Divisive Narrative
As the legal and PR battle rages on, both sides remain locked in a high-stakes conflict. While Baldoni’s team works to salvage his reputation, Lively seeks to expose what she describes as a pattern of retaliatory behavior. The fallout from this feud could have lasting implications for both stars and the industry at large.
