Read the lawsuit Justin Baldoni filed against The New York Times over its bombshell Blake Lively story
Business InsiderJan 01
Justin Baldoni Sues New York Times Over Blake Lively Claims
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Above: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on the 'It Ends with Us' set on Jan. 12, 2024, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Image copyright: Jose Perez/Contributor/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images
The Facts
On Tuesday, Justin Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, filed a $250M lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging libel and false-light invasion of privacy.
This comes 11 days after Blake Lively filed a 10-claim complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of sexually harassing her and plotting "to destroy her reputation."
The New York Times published an article titled "We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine" on Dec. 21 detailing Lively's allegations against Baldoni.
The Spin
Narrative A
The allegations against Baldoni are false and intentionally salacious, designed to publicly harm his reputation. Text messages show Lively actually invited Baldoni to her trailer while pumping, contradicting her claims of uninvited entry. The entire narrative is based on manipulated evidence and unverified claims.
Narrative B
Baldoni engaged in systematic harassment and retaliation, creating a hostile work environment through inappropriate sexual conduct and discussions. When confronted about his behavior, he orchestrated a coordinated smear campaign to destroy Lively's career, causing severe emotional distress and professional damage.
