Justin Baldoni has filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times following a December 21 article that detailed allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior and sexual harassment made by his It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively. The lawsuit, which was filed on December 31, 2024, accuses the publication of defamation and orchestrating a smear campaign to harm Baldoni’s reputation.
The article, titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine, written by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate, was based on allegations Lively made to the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of harassment. Baldoni’s lawsuit argues that The New York Times misrepresented the situation by cherry-picking and altering communications to paint Baldoni and his team in a misleading light. The lawsuit also disputes claims that Baldoni’s publicists celebrated an article in the Daily Mail that criticized Lively.
Additionally, Baldoni’s legal team claims Lively initiated a manipulative smear campaign and made false harassment allegations to control the production. The lawsuit also touches on an alleged altercation with Ryan Reynolds, where Reynolds accused Baldoni of “fat-shaming” Lively and pressuring Baldoni’s agency, WME, to sever ties with him.
The New York Times has strongly denied the allegations, defending the accuracy of the story and stating that it was based on thorough reporting and verified documents. A spokesperson for the paper asserted that the plaintiffs have not identified any factual inaccuracies in the article.
The legal battle is expected to shed light on the complex dynamics of Hollywood, journalistic integrity, and the reputations of the individuals involved. As the case progresses, further details may emerge, keeping the public on edge.