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Following the bombshell news that Blake Lively is seeking damages from her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni, citing sexual harassment and 'severe emotional distress', it has been revealed that Baldoni plans to countersue.
One of the most anticipated releases of 2024, It Ends With Us, was marred by rumours of on-set tension between the two leads.
The rumours surfaced as a result of Lively and Baldoni not attending any of the press events together, and fans spotting that none of the cast followed Baldoni on Instagram.
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37-year-old Lively's lawsuit revealed text messages sent between Baldoni's publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, which were described as an example of a 'social manipulation' campaign, designed to tarnish Lively's image.
After filing the lawsuit, Lively stated: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."
It has now emerged that Baldoni is planning to countersue, with his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, speaking out.
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Freedman told Deadline that they plan to file when the courts reopen on 2 January, and that it will 'shock everyone'.
He continued: "I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative.
"In over 30 years of practicing, I have never seen this level of unethical behaviour intentionally fuelled through media manipulation.
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"It reminds me of what NBC tried to do to Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union and we all know how that ended up. Standby."
In another statement made to People, Freedman added: “There is an insurmountable collection of authentic evidence, including timelines and communications, which have not been doctored or spliced without context, unlike the altered story that ran on Saturday, December 21st 2024."
Freedman is referencing a piece published by the New York Times which detailed Lively's lawsuit, titled ''We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine'.
He continued: “In over three decades of legal practice, I’ve never witnessed such unethical behaviour, fuelled by those who abuse their power and manipulate the truth.
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"This isn’t an isolated case; it’s a recurring pattern in Hollywood and the mainstream media where careers and reputations are destroyed to maintain control.”
“Legacy media has long weaponised their platforms to distort the truth, exploit vulnerabilities, and destroy lives without accountability.
"These lawsuits will confront this system head-on, ensuring that no individual or entity, no matter how influential, can continue perpetuating this cycle of fear and destruction.
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"The truth will not only come to light — it will dismantle the illusions propped up by those who believe themselves untouchable."
In the wake of Lively's lawsuit, It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover wrote on Instagram: "@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met.
"Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
LADbible Group has previously reached out to representatives of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni for comment.
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, TV And Film, Celebrity
Kya Buller