There has been a storm surrounding the film "It Ends with Us". The lead actress Blake Lively accuses her co-star and director Justin Baldoni of having sexually harassed her during filming – and then, together with a PR firm, launched a smear campaign against Lively.
Lively had previously filed a complaint with an authority in California to prevent discrimination, but has now filed an official lawsuit on a federal level against Baldoni, the production company Wayfairer, and a PR person hired by Baldoni.
Sues NYT
According to the lawsuit, Justin Baldoni, among other things, commented on Blake Lively's and other women's bodies during filming, talked about his own sex life – and then tried to pressure Blake Lively to reveal details about her own.
After a meeting where Lively pointed out the harassment, Baldoni, together with the production company, carried out "a carefully designed, coordinated, and financed revenge plan to silence her", according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed just hours after Justin Baldoni and several other people in turn sued the New York Times for libel, and are demanding $250 million in damages.
Baldoni's Lawyer: Outrageous
The New York Times investigated the case and published text messages that, according to the article, show how the smear campaign was planned.
According to the lawsuit, the newspaper "almost entirely relied on Lively's unverified and self-serving story" while "ignoring an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and revealed her true motives". A spokesperson for NYT says that the newspaper stands by its reporting and plans to "vigorously defend" itself against the lawsuit.
Justin Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman has not commented on the latest lawsuit against his client, but has previously called the accusations "totally false, outrageous, and intentionally malicious".
