Featured Image Credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images/John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, US News, Ryan Reynolds
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Celebrity, Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, US News, Ryan Reynolds
Blake Lively has issued her response after Justin Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against her, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane and Sloane's PR firm Vision PR.
Lively had previously sued Baldoni herself, with her court filing alleging sexual harassment and a 'smear campaign' on the part of her It Ends With Us co star.
Per the suit, some of the demands Lively made in response to Baldoni's alleged behaviour on set included: "No more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous 'pornography addiction', no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father."
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And now, Baldoni has launched his own suit against Lively and those around her, including Reynolds.
A statement from Baldoni's legal team said: "This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media.
"It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret.
"Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth. Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power.
"Let’s not forget, Ms. Lively and her team attempted to bulldoze reputations and livelihoods for heinously selfish reasons through their own dangerous manipulation of the media before even taking any actual legal action.
"We know the truth, and now the public does too. Justin and his team have nothing to hide, documents do not lie."
Lively's legal team has since issued a statement following Baldoni's legal action.
A statement from Lively’s lawyers that was given to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday afternoon (16 January) reads: "This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim.
"This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender."
As well as her original lawsuit, lawyers for Lively have said they have now filed a federal complaint against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, claiming the defendants 'have violated federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns'.
Lively's legal team said: "Now, the defendants will answer for their conduct in federal court."
LADbible Group has previously contacted Lively, Reynolds, and Wayfarer for comment.