Justin Baldoni
| Photo Credit: CAITLIN OCHS
Director and actor Justin Baldoni is preparing to file a countersuit against Blake Lively following her recent legal complaint, which accuses him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign during the production of It Ends With Us. According to Deadline, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, intends to file the countersuit after the New Year, claiming it will “shock everyone” and expose the “truth” behind Lively’s allegations.
Freedman has dismissed Lively’s claims as part of a calculated effort to repair her public image. He alleges that Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, initiated a smear campaign against Baldoni, including manipulating the context of WhatsApp messages and planting damaging stories in the media.
Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and others of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in a “coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.” In response, Freedman stated, “The first lawsuit we file will expose a demonstrably false narrative.”
The legal battle has drawn widespread attention, with Lively receiving significant support from her peers. Her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars — America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel — shared a joint statement backing her. “We are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort to discredit her voice,” they wrote.
Author Colleen Hoover, whose novel inspired It Ends With Us, also voiced her support for Lively, praising her honesty and courage.
Published – December 30, 2024 11:52 am IST
