A major development in a growing Hollywood conflict is that director Justin Baldoni plans to sue actress Blake Lively in response to her lawsuit. This happened Following Lively’s 80-page legal complaint last week, in which she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation.
Several publicists named in Lively’s complaint and Baldoni and his business partner Jamey Heath are said to file counterclaims when the courts reopen after the New Year. According to reports, the counter-suit will dispute Lively’s claims and say that her team, not Baldoni, leaked bad news to the media.
The film It Ends With Us, based on the best-selling book by Colleen Hoover about domestic violence, is at the heart of this argument. On a $25 million budget, the film did well at the box office, making more than $350 million. Lively’s lawsuit says that Baldoni acted badly on set and planned a campaign to hurt her image. Baldoni strongly denies these claims.
Through her lawyer, Lively stated her hope that her legal action would expose unfair tactics against people reporting wrongdoing. “I hope my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics,” she said.
Baldoni has been hit hard and fast. Lively’s lawsuit caused his talent agency, WME, to fire him, take back an award, and fire his co-host on a show. A separate lawsuit from his former publicist is also against him.
In support of Lively, her “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, all released a statement. They praised Lively for being brave in demanding a safe workplace and were shocked by the claims that people were trying to hurt her reputation. “We are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice,” they stated.
The actors also spoke out against using the stories of domestic violence survivors to silence Lively, calling it “amazing” how hypocritical it was.
It is said that Baldoni’s planned counter-suit will say that the WhatsApp messages used in Lively’s complaint were taken out of context. After receiving bad press during the film’s promotional activities, he claims her lawsuit is an attempt to repair her public reputation.
There are now more conversations than ever about workplace safety and retaliation in the entertainment industry as both sides prepare for a long legal fight.
