Justin Baldoni’s career is in trouble after a lawsuit

On Friday, December 20, news broke that actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her. It ends with us director and partner Justin Baldoni. Complaint contained accusations sexual harassment and a “repeated” social media revenge campaign to “destroy” her, coordinated by a crisis PR team.

Explosive New York Times exposé containing leaked text messages between Baldoni and his PR team appear to back up the actor’s claim that a carefully crafted PR takedown led to an avalanche of bad press during her promotional tour for It ends with us. The article contained text messages between Baldoni and his reporters. At the time of writing, it’s been a week since Lively’s lawsuit was made public, and Baldoni is already facing increasing backlash from Hollywood and his legal troubles are mounting.

Who is named in Blake Lively’s lawsuit?

Justin Baldoni is one of several plaintiffs in Blake Lively’s lawsuit, which names James Heath, CEO of production company Wayfarer Studios and executive producer of the film, as well as publicists Melissa Nathan and her agency The Agency Group, Jennifer Abel, Baldoni’s publicist and her agency RWA Communications. and Jed Wallace and his agency Street Relations Inc.

Melissa Nathan is a crisis PR expert who worked for Johnny Depp during his successful defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. There are also 1 to 100 defendants in the case. “Who” is a legal term used to describe a number of anonymous parties.

All the defendants categorically deny Lively’s statements. Baldoni’s PR team said the text messages only contained a script planning plan and that the activities described would only have been implemented if Lively had complained to Baldoni, which she said during a private meeting with Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

In a statement sent to many publications, in particular Rolling Stone, Headd Reporterand US WeeklyBaldoni’s legal representative, Brian Friedman, called the allegations “disgraceful,” “serious and categorically false.”

Despite this and the number of others named in the case, Baldoni appears to be bearing the brunt of the charges and has faced a backlash in Hollywood and mounting legal challenges.

Here’s a timeline of the fallout for Justin Baldoni so far.

He was dropped by his agency

According to The Hollywood Reporter Justin Baldoni’s agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME), which represents Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, dropped Baldoni just hours after Lively’s complaint became public.

His former publicist Steph Jones is suing him

Justin Baldona will no doubt need a new PR presence during this period, but if he hopes to use a list of previous contacts, he will be out of luck.

Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones, sued him, his company and his current publicity team for breach of contract. As reported Variety Jones and her public relations group, Joneswork, worked on a multi-year contract with Baldoni that paid her $25,000 a month. Instead, he resigned from her firm in August 2024 The New York Times Jones is also suing his former Joneswork employee, Jennifer Abel, and Baldoni’s wider PR team.

Jones claims Able was fired after the documents were stolen to start his own PR firm. Publicist Melissa Nathan and Baldoni’s extended PR team also appear in her case. She accuses that the PR campaign against Lively was carried out behind her back and that now they are trying to shift the blame to her. “To this day, Abel and Nathan continue to falsely point the finger at Jones now that their misconduct is becoming public, and to disparage and attack Jones within the industry,” the complaint states.

His podcast co-host Liz Plank left him

Baldoni co-hosted the podcast Man is enough with journalist Liz Plank and Jamie Heath, CEO of his production company Wayfarer, who is also named in Lively’s complaint, from 2021. The podcast explores “what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all men. After Planck’s complaint posted on Instagram to her 631,000 followers, explaining that she will no longer be appearing on Man is enough podcast.

“I am writing to you today to inform you that my representative has informed Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting Man is enough podcast. Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for making room for me and for making this show what it was.” “As this chapter closes for me, I remain committed to the values ​​we created together. Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being there for me for the past four years.”

Planck did not directly refer to the allegations against Baldoni and Heath, but added:

“We all deserve better, and I know that together we can create it. I will have more to share as I continue to process everything that happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support anyone who calls out injustice and prosecutes those who stand in their way.”

He was stripped of the “Voices of Solidarity” award.

On Dec. 9, Baldoni received the Voices of Solidarity Award from the nonprofit organization Vital Voices. This global non-profit organization focuses on the empowerment of women. The award recognizes “outstanding men who have shown courage and compassion in standing up for the rights of women and girls.”

As reported BBC, On December 23, the organization announced that the award would be rescinded after Lively was accused of “disgusting behavior” that contradicted Vital Voices’ values.

At the time, Baldoni posted on Instagram that he was “honored and humbled” by the award. “I hope we can teach boys while they’re young that vulnerability is strength, sensitivity is a superpower, and empathy makes them powerful,” he wrote.

The Elizabeth Day podcast episode with Justin Baldoni has been removed

In December, Elizaveta Day, host of the popular podcast How to fail interview with Justin Baldoni. In the podcast notes, Justin Baldoni was described as “smart, empathetic and incredibly eloquent.” On Tuesday, Day shared a statement on Instagram explaining that she had decided to remove the interview on December 4.

“I have made the decision to remove the recent ‘How to Fail’ interview with Justin Balondi from all platforms while the disturbing allegations made against him in Blake Lively’s recent lawsuit are fully investigated. Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. Every woman has the right to dignity in this workplace. Any form of violence should be exposed and people who have the courage to do so should be applauded. Elizabeth”.

As reported TMZ, Baldoni discussed his diagnosis of ADHD as an adult in the episode and shared his “near breakdown” during production It ends with us.

It Ends With Us. Cast members condemned his alleged behavior

The audience was surprised during the press tour for It ends with us that the director and performer of the main role in the film did not take a picture with either his colleague or the author of the book Colin Hoover. They also noted that Baldoni’s colleagues unfollowed him on Instagram. Now the cast members are rallying around Blake Lively.

In a statement to today, Jenny Slate, who played Justin Baldoni’s character Ryle’s sister in the film, expressed her support for Lively.

“As a colleague and friend of Blake Lively, I offer my support as she takes action against those who reportedly planned and carried out an attack on her reputation. Blake is a leader, a loyal friend, and a reliable source of emotional support for me and the many who know and love her. What is revealed about Blake’s attack is terrifyingly dark, disturbing, and downright menacing. I congratulate my friend, admire her courage and support her side.

Star Brandon Scanlar, who played the love interest of Lively’s character Lily Bloom in the film, also expressed his support for the investigation, published in New York Times, writing, “For God’s sake, read this.”

It ends with us author Colleen Hoover along with many other celebrities including Amber Heard, Amy Schumer and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants castmates, also gathers around Blake Lively.

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Ruby Fennelly

Senior writer

After graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature/Gender and Cultural Studies), Ruby began her career in Australian media as a media and marketing reporter for Umbrella after a brief stint in fashion marketing in New York. A former makeup artist, she quickly transitioned into beauty journalism and held several in-house beauty editor positions. Ruby writing can be found in print and digital titles, among others Stunned, GRACE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Age, Australian Financial Review, Body+Soul, Refinery 29, POPSUGAR, marie claire and ELLE. Now, as a senior writer for marie claire and ELLE Australiashe loves covering internet subcultures, TikTok trends, sex, relationships, and fashion just as much as she loves scouring stores for the best non-sticky lip gloss and the perfect fake freckle pencil.

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