Between accusations of harassment, defamation and media manipulation, the Blake Lively case against Justin Baldoni has become a captivating legal drama. What seemed like a simple professional disagreement turned into a public war.
It all starts on the set of the film Jamais Plus, in which Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni share the poster. According to the actress, the atmosphere quickly became heavy. She accuses the actor and director of inappropriate behavior and notably mentions a scene in which he improvised a kiss without her consent. In her complaint, filed December 31, she wrote: “He repeatedly crossed professional boundaries, making my job untenable. »
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The culmination of these tensions would have occurred on January 4, 2024, during a meeting organized in Blake Lively’s apartment, to try to ease tensions. According to the documents, the situation would have degenerated, in particular due to the presence of Blake Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. Coming to support his wife, he would have attacked Justin Baldoni directly: “You cannot treat an actress that way, especially not my wife” he would have told her. Jutin Baldoni would then have tried to calm the situation, but Ryan Reynolds would have requested the establishment of strict rules on the set. In his counter-complaint, Baldoni describes this episode as a “set-up aimed at discrediting me in front of the team”. He claims that Reynolds allegedly made veiled threats to ensure that Lively’s version became the one retained by production. An anonymous team member reports: “Reynolds was in complete control of the meeting. Baldoni seemed trapped and unable to respond to the accusations that were raining down. » This public clash would have reinforced rumors about deep tensions between the co-stars. This muscular exchange marks the start of a spiral of accusations and complaints.
War of Evidence and SMS
Blake Lively’s accusations are largely based on text messages exchanged between members of the production team. In a message cited in her complaint, Jennifer Abel, public relations manager, wrote to Melissa Nathan: “I want to plant articles about how difficult it is to work with Blake. » Nathan replies: “I’m already in contact with the Daily Mail. » For Blake Lively’s lawyers, these exchanges prove an organized conspiracy to tarnish the actress’s reputation, the technique of astroturfing. She states in her complaint: “These messages show a clear intention to harm me publicly and manipulate public opinion to protect Baldoni. » But Justin Baldoni fights back. In his complaint, he accuses the actress of having selected messages out of context. A text message would demonstrate the jokes made between him and his communications team to point out the tendency of Internet users to accuse him of all the ills of Blake Lively.
In another SMS revealed by Mélissa Nathan’s defense, about a negative article on Blake Lively, the communicator would have written sarcastically to Justin Baldoni: “Wow, you really did well this time. » According to Justin Baldoni, she especially made fun of the unfounded rumors accusing her of harassment.
Publicists in the crosshairs
The publicists involved in the case, Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan, vigorously deny the accusations against them. Jennifer Abel says: “These messages were manipulated to make me appear to be a conspirator. In reality, we were discussing ways to respond to media criticism, not orchestrating a smear campaign. » Melissa Nathan adds: “I never sought to harm Blake. My goal was to protect our customers from unwarranted attacks. » Their lawyers point out that the SMS exchanges, taken out of context, actually show sarcastic discussions and reactions of frustration in the face of media pressure. Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, said: “We will prove that these messages were manipulated to construct a sensational story.” »
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This case is therefore based on the opposing versions and the evidence put forward by the two parties, the interpretation of which depends on the camp which presents it. SMS exchanges, far from being irrefutable proof, become weapons in a battle of images and stories. Blake Lively insists on systematic harassment while Justin Baldoni denounces an attempt at media manipulation to divert attention from criticism of the quality of the actress’s performance. While the case continues to generate much ink, it raises fundamental questions about crisis management in the entertainment industry. Between accusations of harassment and media manipulation, this duel above all exposes the flaws of Hollywood. The truth remains difficult to pin down. But one thing is certain: this saga will leave lasting marks in the cinema industry.
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