Tensions in Hollywood are running high after Justin Baldoni, a well-known actor and director, filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit claims the newspaper published an article full of inaccuracies, based on what Baldoni describes as a «manipulated narrative» created by his former co-star, Blake Lively.
The conflict began when Lively filed a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the filming of It Ends With Us. According to Lively, after she voiced concerns about harassment on set, Baldoni and his team leaked information to harm her professional reputation.
The situation escalated when The New York Times published a detailed article titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” The piece revealed confidential details from Lively’s complaint, triggering a media frenzy that put Baldoni in the spotlight.
Baldoni’s Response: “It’s All a Big Lie”
In response, Baldoni filed his lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the newspaper of publishing unverified claims and ignoring evidence that contradicted Lively’s allegations. He argues that the article was used to amplify the actress’s ‘false accusations’ as part of an effort to ‘reshape her public image.’
Baldoni also claims that Lively used these accusations strategically to take full control of the film’s production and to divert attention from ‘high-profile mistakes’ that had damaged her reputation.
“Lively’s cynical abuse of sexual harassment allegations to assert unilateral control over every aspect of the production was both strategic and manipulative,” Baldoni’s lawsuit states. “Simultaneously, her public image suffered as a result of a series of high-profile blunders, which she tried to deflect by blaming Plaintiffs for the public’s prying interest into the foibles of an A-list celebrity. This is nothing but an excuse. Fame is a double-edged sword, but Lively’s tactics here are unconscionable.”
What Does The New York Times Say?
The newspaper isn’t staying silent. In a statement, it described its investigation as ‘thorough and based on original documents,’ including text messages and emails. A spokesperson for The New York Times also told CNN that the publication plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit,” noting that Baldoni’s full statement was included in the original coverage.
The fallout from the article and Lively’s complaint has been significant. Talent agency WME, which represented both Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, dropped Baldoni. Meanwhile, much of Hollywood has shown support for Lively, with organizations like SAG-AFTRA and Sony releasing statements backing her.
As the case develops, it’s shaping up to be one of the most talked-about legal battles of 2025. With accusations, leaked messages, and multimillion-dollar lawsuits involved, this story is likely to stay in the spotlight for quite some time.
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