Director Justin Baldoni is suing *The New York Times* for libel, seeking $250 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, stems from a December 21st article alleging Baldoni sexually harassed *It Ends With Us* star Blake Lively and orchestrated a smear campaign against her. The article, written by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate, quoted a text message, “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” setting the tone for the explosive allegations. The lawsuit claims the *Times* relied heavily on Lively’s account, ignoring contradictory evidence. In addition to Baldoni, the suit names the film’s lead producer, Jamey Heath, their production company Wayfarer Studios, and crisis communications expert Melissa Nathan as plaintiffs.
*The New York Times* denies the allegations, stating the article was “meticulously and responsibly reported,” based on thousands of pages of documents including emails and text messages accurately quoted in the article. A spokesperson for the *Times*, Danielle Rhoades, further asserted that the plaintiffs have not identified a single factual error. The lawsuit counters this by claiming that a thorough review of these communications would reveal Lively, not the plaintiffs, engaged in a smear campaign. Lively, who is not named as a defendant, maintains her allegations through her lawyers, stating the lawsuit does not alter her claims filed with the California Civil Rights Department.
The August release of *It Ends With Us*, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, was a box office success, grossing $50 million on its debut. However, behind the scenes, discord between Lively and Baldoni fueled speculation. Baldoni took a less prominent role in promoting the film, leaving Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds (who was also promoting *Deadpool & Wolverine*), to lead the publicity efforts.
Baldoni, known for his work on *Jane the Virgin* and the film *Five Feet Apart*, and his book *Man Enough*, previously addressed concerns that *It Ends With Us* romanticized domestic violence, stating critics were entitled to their opinions. Following Lively’s complaint and the publication of the *Times* article, Baldoni was dropped by his agency, WME. The legal battle promises to be a significant development in the ongoing conversation surrounding power dynamics and accountability in Hollywood.