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Blake Lively’s ‘Sisterhood’ Costars Speak Out Against Justin Baldoni’s “Vindictive Smear Campaign”
More details are being uncovered in Blake Lively's legal complaint against Justin Baldoni.
In the lengthy document filed with the California Civil Rights Department and obtained by E! News, the actress accused herIt Ends With Us costar and director of sexual harassment on set and spearheading a smear campaign as a retaliation for raising concerns about his behavior on set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation.
And according to the filing, it was Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds unfollowing Baldoni on social media that was among the catalysts that led to the Jane the Virgin alum and his team coordinating their own messaging effort.
In a May 2024 text from Baldoni to his publicist Jennifer Abel included in the filing, he told her Reynolds had blocked his social media account before stating, “We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out.” (According to Lively's complaint, however, both she and the Deadpool star had unfollowed his social media accounts 10 months before this message.)
One month later, Abel allegedly expressed more concern about Baldoni's public image due to Lively and the rest of the It Ends With Us cast choosing to do publicity for the film separately from him. In the filing, Lively said she had not publicly addressed his alleged workplace misconduct at that time.
As Abel wrote in a June 2024 text message to a colleague, "We can't have fans guessing why JB is left out of this stuff."
The following month, Baldoni hired crisis PR professional Melissa Nathan. As Lively alleged in her filing, to prevent the public from learning about the sexual harassment and toxic workplace allegations, Baldoni, his PR team and his production studio Wayfarer Studios participated in a months-long public smear campaign against her, in which they allegedly "created, planted, amplified, and boosted content designed to eviscerate Ms. Lively's credibility."
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However, Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman has denied all of Lively's accusations in a statement to The New York Times, describing her complaint as "categorically false" and "yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film."
E! News reached out to a rep for Abel to comment on Lively's accusations but has not heard back.
Following her complaint, Lively received an outpouring of support from family and friends, including her sister Robyn Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars America Ferrera, Alexis Bleidel and Amber Tamblyn.
"As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years," wrote America, Amber and Alexis in a Dec. 22 Instagram post, "we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation."
For more stars who have spoken out in support of Lively, read on...
Instagram / Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hover
After Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the film's set and for later taking part in a smear campaign against her—claims that he has since denied via his lawyer—Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book that the movie is based on, shared a message to the actress.
"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Colleen wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 21. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
Robyn Lively
Blake's sister, fellow actress Robyn Lively, also weighed in.
"I urge everyone to read The NY Times article in its entirety," Robyn wrote on Instagram Dec. 23, referencing the NYT piece that details Blake's complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department. "It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister."
The Teen Witch star went on to note that it also "highlights" what Blake allegedly experienced on the set of It Ends With Us.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Paul Feig
Blake's A Simple Favor director also came to her defense, writing on X Dec. 22, "I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this."
Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
Amy Schumer
The comedian showed her support for the Gossip Girl alum, writing on her Instagram Story Dec. 22, "I believe Blake."
Joseph Agustin
Gwyneth Paltrow
Shortly after Blake's complaint was made public, the Goop founder shared a photo of The Town star's hair company, Blake Brown, on her Instagram Story, writing, "Just added to my Christmas wish list."
Instagram / America Ferrera
Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn & America Ferrera
Blake's BFFs and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars penned a joint message, posted to Instagram Dec. 22, stating they "stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation."
Noam Galai/WireImage
Bart Johnson
Bart Johnson shared an impassioned defense of his sister-in-law in the comments section of a New York Times Instagram post detailing the filing and its own investigation into the behind-the-scenes turmoil.
“Her complained were filed during the filming,” the High School Musical alum, who is married to Blake's sister Robyn, wrote. “On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him for a reason. Read this article before spitting ignorance. His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out faults. But the public got played."
Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Amber heard
Days after Lively's filing was made public, Amber Heard reflected on her own experience facing relentless vitriol online amid ex Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her.
“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,’” the Aquaman star expressed in a statement to NBC News Dec. 23. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
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