The ongoing controversy surrounding Justin Baldoni and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively took another dramatic turn as Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones, filed a lawsuit against him, his company, and his current publicity team.
Allegations of Contract Breach and Smear Campaign
Jones, owner of the PR firm Jonesworks, accused Baldoni of breaching their contract, which stipulated a $25,000 monthly retainer. Baldoni severed ties with the firm in August, just months into a year-long agreement, following the departure of Jonesworks publicist Jennifer Abel, who left to start her own firm.
The lawsuit also targets Abel and publicist Melissa Nathan, accusing them of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively without Jones’ knowledge and later attempting to shift the blame onto her.
“Abel and Nathan continue to falsely point the finger at Jones now that their own misconduct is coming to light, defaming and attacking Jones within the industry,” the lawsuit claims.
Blake Lively’s Complaint Against Baldoni
The legal drama follows a complaint filed by Lively with the California Civil Rights Department on Saturday. She accused Baldoni and his publicists of retaliating against her by spreading negative stories after she raised allegations of sexual harassment on set in 2023.
Lively’s complaint includes evidence of sexually inappropriate comments and behavior by Baldoni, which she reported through her attorneys before production resumed following the Hollywood strikes. The rift between the two co-stars reportedly escalated during the film’s publicity tour, with Baldoni allegedly fearing public accusations and instructing his team to “bury” Lively in the media.
Revealing Text Messages and Escalating Tensions
Unusually, Lively’s attorneys obtained text messages from Abel’s phone through a pre-litigation subpoena sent to Jones. These messages reportedly detailed plans by Baldoni’s PR team to undermine Lively’s credibility.
In response, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has threatened legal action against Jones for releasing Abel’s phone records to Lively’s legal team. Freedman, Abel, and Nathan have yet to comment on Jones’ lawsuit.
Jones Details Allegations Against Abel and Nathan
Jones alleges that after Abel’s termination, Jonesworks “forensically preserved” and reviewed Abel’s company phone, uncovering extensive evidence of deceit. The records revealed that Abel had encouraged Jonesworks clients and employees to leave the firm, conspiring with Nathan to damage Jones’ business reputation.
“These covert actions inflicted serious harm on Jones and Jonesworks,” the lawsuit claims. Jones also accuses Abel and Nathan of planting defamatory stories about her in the media, including a Business Insider article published last summer.
Legal Fallout and Claims
Jones’ lawsuit, filed in New York state court, includes allegations of breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, and defamation. She is seeking damages for the harm caused to her company and reputation.
What’s Next?
As the scandal deepens, the legal battles show no signs of slowing down. With lawsuits and counterclaims piling up, the fallout from the alleged smear campaign could have far-reaching consequences for everyone involved, including Baldoni, Lively, and their respective teams.
