With a defamation lawsuit filed by his former publicist, Stephanie Jones, the controversy surrounding Justin Baldoni, director of “It Ends With Us,” heated up on Tuesday. This legal fight adds to the trouble that started when star Blake Lively said Star was sexually harassing her.
Jones, the founder of Jonesworks, filed the lawsuit in New York against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, former employee Jennifer Abel, and crisis coordinator Melissa Nathan. The suit says that the defendants planned a campaign to hurt Jones’s business and image and tried to make Lively look bad while blaming Jones.
Lively filed her complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CCRD), which is when this legal action was filed. In her lawsuit, she said that Baldoni and other people harassed her sexually while they were making “It Ends With Us.” A court order gave Lively access to thousands of texts and emails that are part of her complaint. They show what she calls “retaliatory actions” after she reported wrongdoing.
Lively’s claims have been categorically rejected by Baldoni’s legal team, who have called them “completely false, outrageous, and deliberately salacious.”
There is a lot more support for Lively in Hollywood now. America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, who were all in “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” with her, released a statement showing their support. They said they support Lively as she fights the campaign meant to hurt her image. Paul Feig, who directed Lively in “A Simple Favor,” said she was one of the “most collaborative and kind people” he had ever met and praised her career and skills.
The lawsuit filed by Jones adds to the problems. It says that Abel, fired last summer, had offensive texts found on a company phone. Jones says Abel was fired because she was accused of stealing company papers while preparing to start her public relations firm.
The consequences of this situation have already hurt Baldoni’s reputation. Vital Voices, a non-profit group, took away its Voices of Solidarity Award earlier this month. This award recognizes guys who speak out for women and girls.
The movie It Ends With Us, which has made over $350 million worldwide, strangely examines domestic violence and how it affects relationships. The film’s popularity differs greatly from the ongoing debate behind the scenes.
When this article was written, people from all the parties involved had not replied to requests for feedback.
