New Lawsuit Escalates Drama Surrounding "It Ends With Us" Director and Co-Star
Blake Lively’s Allegations Against Justin Baldoni Continue to Reverberate
As the fallout from Blake Lively’s allegations against her "It Ends With Us" director and co-star Justin Baldoni continues to unfold, a new lawsuit has further raised the stakes. Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist, has filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court, accusing the actor’s crisis PR team of waging a coordinated effort to undermine her and deflect blame for a retaliatory smear campaign targeting Lively.
The New Lawsuit: A Coordinated Effort to Undermine Jones and Deflect Blame
According to the lawsuit, Jennifer Abel, formerly a senior figure at Jones’ PR firm Jonesworks, collaborated with crisis manager Melissa Nathan on a "no-holds-barred strategy" to shield Baldoni from Lively’s misconduct allegations while simultaneously undermining Jones’ own reputation. The plan involved planting negative stories about Lively in the media, creating fake social media accounts to amplify the attacks, and leveraging Baldoni’s public image as a feminist ally to discredit her.
The Allegations: A Coordinated Effort to Undermine Jones and Lively
The lawsuit alleges that Abel and Nathan secretly coordinated with Baldoni and his studio Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign against Lively, Lively’s film co-star. The campaign allegedly included creating fake social media accounts to spread false information and negative rumors about Lively, as well as using confidential company information to poach clients and lay the groundwork for a competing PR firm.
The Fallout: Consequences for All Parties Involved
The new lawsuit has already had professional repercussions for Baldoni. His talent agency, WME, has dropped him as a client, and the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership has rescinded an award honoring him as an advocate for women’s empowerment. In a statement, the organization said Baldoni’s alleged "abhorrent conduct" detailed in Lively’s lawsuit was "contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award."
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding "It Ends With Us" has exposed the darker corners of reputation management in Hollywood, highlighting the importance of accountability and transparency in the industry. As the lawsuits unfold, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will navigate the fallout and whether the allegations will lead to meaningful change in the way the industry handles allegations of misconduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the new lawsuit about?
A: The new lawsuit is about the alleged coordinated effort by Justin Baldoni’s crisis PR team to undermine Stephanie Jones, his former publicist, and deflect blame for a retaliatory smear campaign targeting Blake Lively.
Q: What are the allegations in the new lawsuit?
A: The allegations include that the PR team, led by Jennifer Abel, secretly coordinated with Baldoni and his studio Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign against Lively, creating fake social media accounts to spread false information and negative rumors about her.
Q: What are the consequences for Justin Baldoni?
A: Baldoni’s talent agency, WME, has dropped him as a client, and the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership has rescinded an award honoring him as an advocate for women’s empowerment.
