MOVIE NEWS – The unfolding drama surrounding It Ends With Us has taken yet another shocking twist. What began as a professional dispute has escalated into a full-blown legal battle. Blake Lively has filed an official complaint—essentially laying the groundwork for a lawsuit—against Justin Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios, and other associates. Accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign, Lively has garnered widespread public support, while Baldoni’s professional reputation has taken a severe hit. The situation has worsened as Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has also filed her own lawsuit linked to the alleged defamation effort.

According to The New York Times, Jones filed her lawsuit in New York on Tuesday, claiming that she was removed from representing Baldoni and his studio due to fears that Lively might publicize allegations of misconduct on set. Citing breach of contract, Jones’ lawsuit sheds new light on the extent of Lively’s accusations.

Lively’s complaint includes text messages and emails obtained through a subpoena. Jones’ lawsuit reveals that these messages came from a company phone issued by her firm and used by employee Jennifer Abel. Abel became a central figure in the controversy when a private Facebook message she posted to a PR group was leaked. In the message, Abel admitted that she and Baldoni’s crisis PR team enjoyed watching the internet disparage Lively’s name while simultaneously praising Baldoni for highlighting the film’s domestic violence themes. Abel also suggested that no deliberate smear campaign was needed, as the online chatter was sufficient. Her name is also mentioned in Lively’s complaint as one of the key players in the defamation effort.

Allegations of Deceptive Practices by Baldoni’s Team

The plot thickens further as Abel, who was dismissed by Jones upon discovery of her misconduct, is accused of stealing documents while preparing to launch her own PR business. Abel had been a key liaison between Jones’ firm and Baldoni’s studio as tensions around It Ends With Us began escalating. Another name implicated is Melissa Nathan, Baldoni’s crisis communication manager, who worked closely with Abel during this period.

After Abel was terminated, her company phone was returned to Jones’ firm under legal supervision, and its contents were forensically extracted without any tampering. Upon reviewing the messages, Jones discovered what she believed to be clear evidence of a retaliation plan against Lively. For those curious about how Lively obtained these damning communications, this appears to be the answer.

Jones’ lawsuit aligns closely with Lively’s complaint, echoing similar accusations. It claims that Baldoni’s team, including Abel and Nathan, devised a no-holds-barred strategy to discredit Lively and suppress any revelations about his alleged misconduct. Additionally, the suit accuses Jamey Heath, the producer of It Ends With Us, of approving the campaign.

Jones alleges that the actions were not only aimed at Lively but also targeted her personally. According to her lawsuit, Baldoni’s team attempted to tarnish her reputation, poach her clients, and shift blame for the smear campaign onto her. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, who previously issued a brief denial of Lively’s allegations, has yet to comment on Jones’ claims, likely due to the growing complexity of the legal battle.

Source: MovieWeb