Blake Lively has brought in a high-profile PR crisis manager as her legal dispute with Justin Baldoni heats up. She is currently suing and being sued by the director and co-star of “It Ends With Us.” Lively is working with Nick Shapiro, a former deputy chief of staff at the CIA who is known for his extensive government experience.
A representative from Lively’s legal team explained that Shapiro has been hired to help shape their legal communication strategy in response to a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in New York.
The tension rose last December when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the film’s production in 2023. This allegation was included in a letter to the California Civil Rights Department. The letter also claimed Baldoni led a smear campaign against her, which gained attention when reported by the New York Times, initiating a series of legal battles involving multiple parties.
On New Year’s Eve, Baldoni and nine others, including his publicist, filed a $250 million libel suit against the New York Times. In turn, Lively sued Baldoni and the group for retaliating against her for reporting harassment and workplace safety issues. Baldoni then countered with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion and defamation.
Additionally, Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has filed her own lawsuit against him and Nathan, claiming breach of contract. After ending her professional relationship with Baldoni, Jones reportedly shared text messages with Lively’s legal team, raising questions about the nature of that communication.
In another twist, entrepreneur Jed Wallace has also filed a multi-million dollar defamation suit against Lively, claiming her accusations damaged his reputation.
Shapiro, who started his own crisis PR firm after years in government, might seem an unusual choice for Lively, as her current legal issues don’t involve political elements. His background includes handling significant crises during the Obama Administration, such as responses to the H1N1 pandemic and the Sandy Hook shooting.
Despite his qualifications, Shapiro is not without controversy. He was part of a group of intelligence officials who signed an open letter in 2020 about the Hunter Biden laptop, which faced criticism later.
It’s common for celebrities like Lively and Baldoni to seek crisis management support during public disputes. However, Lively’s team previously criticized Baldoni’s use of PR experts during the film’s promotion, especially when rumors of a feud between the two emerged. This tension prevented them from appearing together at press events and the movie premiere last August.
The film itself, a project funded by Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, was a commercial success, grossing $351 million worldwide against a $25 million budget.
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Source linkBlake Lively,It Ends With Us,Justin Baldoni
