The legal battle between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has intensified, with Baldoni filing a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times and detailing a confrontation with Ryan Reynolds in the process.
Baldoni claims that Reynolds “aggressively berated” him during a meeting at the couple’s Tribeca penthouse in 2023, accusing the actor-director of “fat-shaming” Lively on the set of It Ends With Us. Baldoni asserts that he merely inquired about Lively’s weight to ensure he could safely perform a lifting scene, given prior back issues. Despite repeated apologies, Baldoni alleges the incident escalated, with Reynolds later pressuring the talent agency WME to sever ties with him—a claim the agency denies.
The lawsuit stems from a December New York Times article titled ‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine, which recounted Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni. The actor claims the story relied on Lively’s narrative, omitting evidence he says disproves her claims, including text messages that allegedly show her inviting him into her trailer while pumping breastmilk — a central issue in her complaint.
The 87-page complaint also accuses The New York Times of promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract, challenging the narrative of the 4,000-word article that shook Hollywood and resulted in WME severing ties with Baldoni just hours after its release.
Baldoni’s legal filing accuses Lively of orchestrating a “manipulative smear campaign” to gain creative control over the production and deflect negative public attention following a series of missteps. Lively, however, continues to pursue her federal complaint, seeking damages for emotional distress and reputational harm.
Meanwhile, The New York Times stands by its reporting, pledging to “vigorously defend” its work in a statement to Variety.
Published – January 02, 2025 02:15 pm IST