Actor Justin Baldoni on Tuesday accused the Gray Lady of his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively when he reported claims that he had launched a “smear campaign” against her. He filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for defaming him and his team.
Lively previously filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. Lively also claims that Baldoni ran and participated in a campaign of “social manipulation” that destroyed her career and reputation.
On Dec. 21, the Times published an article headlined, “'Anyone Can Bury': Inside Hollywood's Smear Machine,” which included “strategies for running almost undetectable smear campaigns in the digital age” about Lively. reported private emails and text messages showing. , a 37-year-old actress who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds.
Justin Baldoni says Blake Lively's claims are 'false and destructive', lawyer says new lawsuit will reveal truth
Actor Justin Baldoni has sued The New York Times for defamation. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
But Baldoni and other plaintiffs, including a Hollywood public relations expert, claim the Times article “deliberately omitted some text exchanges and other information that contradicted the actress' account.” . They claim the Times defamed them in the process and ignored important context from the communication that disputed many of Lively's claims.
“The article's central allegation, summed up in a defamatory headline designed to immediately mislead readers, is that the plaintiffs orchestrated a retaliatory public relations campaign against Lively for speaking out about sexual harassment. “This premise, however, is decisively false and easily disproved,” the 87-page lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by attorney Brian Friedman alleges.
“The Times article relied almost entirely on Lively's unverified and self-centered narrative, ignoring the wealth of evidence that contradicts her claims and exposes her true motives. and held it up,” the lawsuit continues.
friedman told variety show “Intimidated by the desires and whims of two powerful 'untouchable' Hollywood elites, the Times used altered and manipulated texts and deliberately omitted texts that challenged their chosen PR narrative,” the Times wrote. “by ignoring journalistic practices and ethics worthy of a once-respected publication.”
Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation and emotional distress
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. (Getty Images)
The Times stands by its report.
“The role of an independent news organization is to track the facts. Our story was reported with great care and responsibility. “It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including,” the article details,” Times spokesperson Daniel Rose Ha told Fox News Digital.
“We are their Full statement We similarly responded to the allegations in the article,” she continued, adding, “We intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.”
The complaint also says that the Times published the report ahead of the response deadline given to Mr. Baldoni's representatives “to pay lip service to journalistic ethics and basic impartiality.” “Never intended or desired a response from Plaintiffs.''
According to the paper, talent agency William Morris Endeavor removed Baldoni as a client in response to the Times article.
Mr. Friedman did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment on Mr. Baldoni's allegations for the Times. He previously told the Times that Lively's original claims were “completely false, outrageous and intentionally despicable, designed to publicly undermine and rehash the narrative in the media.” spoke.
LONDON, UK – AUGUST 8: Blake Lively attends the UK Gala Screening of It Ends with Us at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 8, 2024 in London, UK Attend the meeting. (Photo by Leah Tobey/Getty Images) (Leah Tobey/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz and Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
