The case between actress Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni continues to be fierce. According to reports in the media, Baldoni would serve a countersuit against Lively due to her latest defamation and misconduct claims.
On December 20, Blake Lively filed an 80-page legal complaint against Baldoni, whom she accused of inappropriate behavior on set and orchestrating a smear campaign against her; Baldoni denies those claims. Industry attention to the filing that was made with the California Civil Rights Department has been considerable.
Reportedly, the legal team of Baldoni, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, will reportedly file a countersuit after the New Year. Claims include an accusation that Blake Lively’s PR team fabricated defamatory narratives against Baldoni and misrepresented evidence, including WhatsApp messages. Freedman stated the countersuit would “shock” those who have supported what he describes as a false narrative.
The conflict has been far-reaching. Baldoni was dumped by WME, lost a solidarity award, and lost professional colleagues, even a podcast co-host. Blake Lively has received an outpouring of support from industry colleagues and called attention to her intent to protect others from retaliatory tactics.
Amid the chaos, there’s one film that stands tall in all its glory: It Ends With Us, the big blockbuster adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, grossing over $350 million on a $25 million budget. But what happens off-screen may well write the headlines.
This scandal reflects the more profound struggles of power and manipulation within the media in which Hollywood often finds itself.
This narrative manipulation has been tossed both ways. Camp Lively reported that there had been retaliatory moves coming from the camp of Baldoni and Camp Baldoni retaliated by calling such a move unethical media practice.
The two cases as they approach trial, the public spectacle will be treated in the most fantastic way it may eventually reach a dramatic showdown in the courtroom.
To Read More: Entertainment