Topics: Hailey Bieber, Celebrity, Justin Baldoni, Ben Affleck, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively
Amid the bombshell news that actress Blake Lively is suing her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and an alleged smear campaign which resulted in 'severe emotional distress', revealing texts have been made public.
Baldoni, 40, starred as Ryle Kincaid alongside Lively, 37, who played his wife Lily Bloom in the film, which details a relationship torn apart by domestic violence.
Fans noticed that despite the movie being a financial success, the two co-leads didn't attend press events together and Baldoni wasn't followed by the cast on Instagram.
Lively has now filed a lawsuit and is seeking damages, alleging sexual harassment and a 'social manipulation' campaign designed to smear her public image.
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The explosive suit details Lively's concerns and purported experience on set, as well as a list of demands the actress made in order to feel comfortable while filming.
It also includes a number of A-list names who were mentioned after Baldoni hired publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan.
The purported strategy hinges on Baldoni's team encouraging journalists to scrutinise Lively's past working relationships, in order to paint her in a negative light.
Lively worked with her Gossip Girl co-star Meester between 2007 to 2012 with the two portraying Upper East Siders Serena and Blair, respectively.
As per the suit, Baldoni's team were planning stories in case 'Blake subtly hints at her experience [working on set with Baldoni on It Ends With Us] in post-premiere coverage, either in an op-ed, interview or otherwise.'
The Meester angle comes from rumours that the two actresses had a personality clash - though it has been denied by both stars.
The stars worked together on the beloved thriller A Simple Favour, and reports claimed there was tension between the two actresses.
However, this appears to have been dispelled, with Kendrick remarking that reuniting with Blake for the film's sequel was 'lovely'.
Lively and Affleck joined forces for the 2010 crime thriller The Town.
Affleck was named in the lawsuit, but previously told Entertainment Tonight that Lively was 'terrific', and 'really eager to learn from the people and wanted to go around and do research.'
Subpoenaed exchanges between Baldoni's team show their concern regarding Swift's huge fanbase and her friendship with Lively.
The email allegedly said: "We have seen the most innocuous issues turn giant due to socials or the hugest crises have no effect on social whatsoever.
"You just cannot tell at this stage. But BL does have some of the same TS fanbase so we will be taking it extremely seriously."
A second message is purported to read: "Our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponisation of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilising these tactics to 'bully' into getting what they want."
In a message to his team, Baldoni screenshot a thread on X that accused Hailey of 'bullying women'.
He wrote: "This is what we would need," which led his team to say they were 'on it' and focused on utilising 'Reddit, TikTok and IG'.
Tyla has contacted representatives of Hailey Bieber for comment.
