The New York Times is asking a judge to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against them. Baldoni claims the paper worked with Blake Lively and her PR team when they published an article on December 21 titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” The article revealed that Lively had filed a civil rights complaint against Baldoni, her director and co-star in “It Ends With Us.” It also alleged that Baldoni and his team tried to damage Lively’s reputation after she raised concerns about his behavior on set.
In their response, the Times argues that Baldoni and his team are trying to pull the paper into their dispute with Lively. They assert that they were simply reporting the news and that Baldoni’s lawsuit paints a one-sided picture of events. They believe the paper doesn’t belong in this legal battle.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for the Times, stated that the lawsuit should never have been directed at them. She emphasized that Lively raised important issues about her treatment on set, and the Times acted responsibly by informing the public about her complaint. She added that Baldoni’s attempts to discredit their reporting will not stop them from doing their job.
A spokesperson for Baldoni did not provide an immediate comment. However, Lively’s representative backed the Times, stating that Baldoni’s lawsuit is merely a PR tactic with no place in the legal system.
The spokesperson noted that Baldoni, who has long advocated for believing women, resorted to aggressive tactics when Lively spoke out against him. They argued that these bullying strategies wouldn’t hold up in court and should be recognized for what they are: baseless claims.
Baldoni’s team recently revised their complaint, claiming that metadata shows the Times had access to Lively’s civil rights complaint at least 11 days before the article was published. Baldoni initially filed a $250 million lawsuit against the Times on the same day Lively sued him and his team. Shortly after, Baldoni’s company, Wayfarer, countersued and later included the Times as a defendant.
“It Ends With Us,” released last summer, tells the story of a florist who gets involved in an abusive relationship with a neurosurgeon. The film has become a massive success, grossing over $350 million.
This article has been updated to include a statement from Lively’s representative in support of the New York Times’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
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Source linkBlake Lively,It Ends With Us,Justin Baldoni
