Former publicist Stephanie Jones has filed a lawsuit against actor Justin Baldoni, his company, and his current publicity team amid an escalating controversy involving "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively.
Jones, owner of Jonesworks, alleges Baldoni breached their $25,000 monthly contract when he left her firm in August, several months before the year-long agreement was set to expire. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in New York state court, also names publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan as defendants.
The legal action comes days after Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni and his publicity team of orchestrating negative press coverage in retaliation for her sexual harassment allegations against him during filming in 2023.
Jones claims Abel and Nathan implemented a smear campaign against Lively without her knowledge while Abel was still employed at Jonesworks. The lawsuit states that after Abel's departure, Jones discovered text messages on Abel's company phone revealing plans to "bury" Lively.
The suit alleges Abel conspired to leave Jonesworks while attempting to take clients with her, and that Nathan encouraged this move to gain greater access to those clients. Jones seeks damages for breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, and defamation.
Bryan Freedman, attorney for Baldoni, Abel, and Nathan, has denied Lively's allegations, calling them "completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." He previously threatened legal action against Jones for releasing Abel's phone contents to Lively's legal team.
The controversy has already impacted Baldoni's career, with talent agency WME dropping him as a client on December 21. Industry insiders suggest this lawsuit may be the first of several expected in connection with the ongoing scandal.