In the latest development of an escalating Hollywood dispute, "It Ends With Us" director Justin Baldoni has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, following the newspaper's coverage of sexual harassment allegations made by actress Blake Lively.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims the Times coordinated with Lively to advance what Baldoni's team calls an "unverified and self-serving narrative" while allegedly ignoring contradictory evidence. The legal action names nine additional plaintiffs, including producer Jamey Heath and Wayfarer Studios.
The Times published an extensive report on December 21, 2023, detailing Lively's allegations against Baldoni and his team. The article, titled "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine," prompted immediate industry reaction, including WME dropping Baldoni as a client.
In response to the lawsuit, a Times spokesperson defended their reporting, stating the story "was meticulously and responsibly reported" and based on thousands of pages of documents, including text messages and emails quoted in the article.
The legal battle intensified when Lively filed her own lawsuit in New York federal court, accusing Baldoni and his public relations team of orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation after she spoke up about alleged misconduct during the film's production.
Lively's complaint details multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior on set, including unauthorized physical contact during intimate scenes and unannounced entries into her private trailer. Her legal team maintains that the Times lawsuit does not affect the validity of her claims.
The romantic drama "It Ends With Us" was released in August, earning $50 million in its opening weekend despite behind-the-scenes tensions between its star and director.
Both parties continue to deny each other's allegations as the legal proceedings move forward in multiple jurisdictions.