Blake Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane denies spreading stories aimed at damaging Justin Baldoni’s reputation amid the release of It Ends with Us.
Sloane issued a statement distancing herself from stories detailing complaints about Baldoni’s conduct on the film’s set after Dailymail.com was the first to report that the actor and director, 40, has a countersuit ready to be filed. presented when the new year begins.
On Saturday, Sloane, who runs Vision PR, the firm that represents Lively, 37, denied planting stories aimed at damaging Baldoni’s image amid friction between him and Lively during filming of the romantic drama.
“It is clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are suggesting that I originated press articles about human resources complaints on set, which is false,” Sloane told Deadline in a statement.
Sloane addressed the details of the 80-page legal complaint filed by Lively on December 20: “Read Ms. Lively’s complaint and the complaint filed by Jonesworks LLC and Stephanie Jones, which provides details of the campaign against me customer”.
Dailymail.com has contacted Sloane and Baldoni’s representatives for comment on the developing story.
Blake Lively’s manager Leslie Sloane denies spreading stories aimed at damaging Justin Baldoni’s reputation last summer. The actress, 37, photographed in New York on August 5.
Baldoni, 40, received an award at a Vital Voices event on Dec. 9 in New York, but the honor has since been rescinded amid claims made by Lively in her legal lawsuit.
In her statement, Sloane provided a timeline of events she became aware of regarding the publication of stories detailing complaints against Baldoni on set, noting that Baldoni’s public relations chief, Melissa Nathan, and editor from Page Six, Sara Nathan, who are involved in the situation, are siblings.
“On August 11, Sara Nathan (Melissa Nathan’s sister) contacted me with an anonymous tip that Page Six received, regarding allegations of human resources complaints on the set of It Ends with Us,” Sloane said. ‘After that, several media outlets contacted me to ask about reports of HR complaints.
“When contacted, I responded to press inquiries by referring them to Wayfarer or Sony for information on HR complaints.”
Sloane’s statement came on the heels of Dailymail.com’s exclusive report on Friday that Baldoni and several associates are preparing to file a countersuit against Lively when courts open on January 2, while Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, He promised that the content of the presentation “will shock everyone.” ‘
“I’m not going to talk about when or how many lawsuits we’re going to file, but when we file our first lawsuit, it will shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Freedman said Saturday. Deadline.
Freedman said the content of the countersuit “will be supported by real evidence and tell the real story” of how things happened between the creatives and their respective advertising teams.
“In over 30 years of practice, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior intentionally fueled through media manipulation,” Freedman told the outlet.
He added: “It reminds me of what NBC tried to do to Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union and we all know how it ended.” Support.’
It looks like the hostility between Lively and Baldoni won’t end in 2024, as a lawyer for Baldoni promises that an upcoming countersuit against the actress is “going to surprise everyone.” Photographed on set in New York earlier this year.
Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during the film’s production in multiple ways. Photographed last month in Los Angeles.
Freedman said People Sunday that the countersuit will shed light on “those who believe they are untouchable.”
Freedman said: “This is not a response or a countersuit, it is a deliberate search for the truth.”
Freedman also alluded to a December 21 article on the subject published by The New York Times, titled ‘We can bury anyone’: inside a Hollywood smear machine.
Freedman said, “This lawsuit will uncover and expose the false and destructive narrative that was intentionally crafted by a trusted publication that relied on nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact-checking process to confirm the validity of these texts.”
As Dailymail.com previously reported, Baldoni’s business partner Jamey Heath will also be involved in the countersuit, as will publicists who were named in the complaint filed by Lively just over a week ago.
In Lively’s legal complaint, which typically precedes a formal lawsuit, Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during production of the film in multiple ways.
Lively said in the legal complaint that Baldoni had broken into her trailer while she was breastfeeding her son; spoke about his past addiction to adult films; discussed past sexual experiences with non-consensual implications; and they questioned her about details of her “intimate life.”
Lively’s legal team said in the complaint that Baldoni “routinely demeaned her by finding underhanded ways to criticize her body and weight.”
Baldoni has denied all claims against him in Lively’s legal filing.
The film hit theaters on August 9 and was a success, grossing $148 million at the domestic box office and $350 million worldwide.
Baldoni and select associates worked together to instigate a negative public campaign at her expense, intended to diminish her reputation, Lively, who is married to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, 48, said in the complaint.
“I hope my legal action will help uncover these sinister retaliation tactics to harm people who report misconduct and help protect others who may be targeted,” Lively told the Times.
Baldoni has denied all claims against him in Lively’s legal filing.
In the wake of Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni has faced a series of fallout, including a lawsuit from a former publicist; and being fired by the WME agency, which also represents Lively and Reynolds.
The organization Voces Vitales said in a Dec. 24 statement that it had rescinded an honor given to the actor and director earlier this month, the Voces Solidarias Award.
“The Voices of Solidarity Award honors outstanding men who have shown courage and compassion in standing up for women and girls,” the group said.
Vital Voices later said the allegations in the complaint filed by Lively were “disturbing,” “abhorrent,” and “contrary to the values” she holds dear, leading it to revoke the honors for Baldoni.
Expected claims made in the countersuit, as previously reported by Dailymail.com, include allegations that Lively’s associates deceive by posting WhatsApp messages out of context.
Lively and Baldoni photographed filming the film in New York this past January.
While Lively and Baldoni ‘never got along’ and ‘bothered’ each other, the actress ‘has taken snippets of conversations they had when he was trying to be her friend, when they were friendly, and used them as a weapon.’ said an informant
Other claims anticipated in the countersuit are that Lively’s representative used the media to attack Baldoni’s reputation; and that Lively’s Dec. 20 complaint was filed to save her reputation after a run of negative publicity.
The timing of Lively’s complaint “doesn’t make sense” as presented, a source previously told Dailymail.com.
“Do you really think that Blake Lively, married to one of the most powerful men in the city and represented by one of the most powerful publicists, will just sit back meekly if she is sexually harassed on a film set, and then put up with it for a while?” ?” Four months after the film’s release before filing a complaint? the informant asked.
The source confirmed that while Lively and Baldoni ‘never got along’ and ‘got angry at each other,’ the actress ‘has taken snippets of conversations they had when he was trying to be her friend, when they were friendly, and weaponized them.’
It Ends with Us, also starring Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, hit theaters on August 9 and was a hit with audiences. It earned $148 million at the domestic box office and $350 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.