Justin Baldoni’s Counterclaim Against Blake Lively Set to Shock Everyone, Lawyer Says

It seems that the animosity between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will continue into 2024. Following an exclusive report on Friday that the It Ends with Us actor and director, 40, along with his team, is preparing to file a counterclaim against the 37-year-old Lively when the courts open on January 2, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, stated that the content of the lawsuit will “shock everyone.”

A Bold Legal Move

In a statement to Deadline on Saturday, Freedman emphasized the gravity of the upcoming counterclaim. “I won’t speak to the timing or the number of claims we’ll file, but when we file the first lawsuit, it will shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing an entirely false narrative,” Freedman said. He further added that the counterclaim will be supported by solid factual evidence, presenting the true story of what transpired between the creative team and their public relations group during the film’s production.

Freedman, who has over 30 years of legal experience, expressed his dismay at the level of unethical behavior involved in the case. “I’ve never seen such a deliberate and malicious attempt to manipulate the media in such a way,” he remarked. “It reminds me of what NBC tried to do with Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union, and we all know how that turned out.”

The Counterclaim Will Expose Hidden Truths

Freedman said that the counterclaim would “expose those who think they’re untouchable.” He clarified that this was not a mere response but a deliberate action to pursue the truth. “This lawsuit will uncover and lay bare the false and defamatory story that was intentionally fabricated by a trusted media outlet, which relied on unreliable sources and ignored proper fact-checking procedures to validate the claims,” Freedman added.

The 80-page legal complaint filed by Blake Lively earlier this month accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of It Ends with Us. Lively claimed that Baldoni invaded her privacy in multiple ways, including entering her trailer while she was breastfeeding, discussing his past addiction to pornography, and making sexual insinuations about his past experiences. Additionally, she accused him of criticizing her body and weight, seeking to diminish her self-esteem and exploit her personal life for negative publicity.

Blake Lively’s Legal Action

According to Lively’s legal team, Baldoni and his associates orchestrated a public campaign aimed at tarnishing her reputation. The accusations, however, have been vehemently denied by Baldoni, who has responded with his own legal filings.

In a statement, Lively expressed her hope that her legal actions would help expose “malicious retaliation tactics aimed at harming those who speak out against misconduct” and offer protection to others who may become targets. Her complaint alleges that these actions were part of a larger public relations smear campaign orchestrated to discredit her.

Repercussions for Baldoni

Since Lively filed her lawsuit, Justin Baldoni has faced several consequences, including a lawsuit from a former public relations expert and the termination of his contract with WME, the agency that also represents Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Additionally, Vital Voices, an organization dedicated to empowering women and girls, rescinded the Voices of Solidarity Award it had recently presented to Baldoni, citing the disturbing nature of the allegations in Lively’s complaint.

Legal Drama and Misunderstandings

One of the key issues expected to arise in the counterclaim is the alleged misrepresentation of text messages from WhatsApp that were released out of context by Lively’s associates. There are also claims that Lively’s team used media outlets to undermine Baldoni’s reputation, turning the tables on his public image after facing heavy criticism.

A source close to the situation questioned the timing of Lively’s complaint, asking, “Do you really think Blake Lively, who is married to one of the most powerful men in the city and represented by one of the top PR experts, would remain silent if she were sexually harassed on set?” The insider added that while Lively and Baldoni never saw eye to eye, Lively “manipulated” their past interactions when they were on friendlier terms, turning them into weapons for her defense.

Public Relations and Media Involvement

Leslie Sloane, head of Vision PR, the public relations firm representing Blake Lively, denied accusations that she was the source of media stories regarding the harassment claims. Sloane clarified in a statement to Deadline that Baldoni and his team were misleading the press by insinuating that she was behind the media coverage of Lively’s complaints.

Sloane stated, “Clearly, Mr. Baldoni and his associates are suggesting that I initiated media stories about the harassment claims on set, which is simply false.” She went on to detail how she had been contacted by multiple media outlets to provide information about the HR complaint and had directed them to Wayfarer and Sony for further details.

Box Office Success Amidst Legal Turmoil

Despite the ongoing legal battles, It Ends with Us, which also stars Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, and Kevin McKidd, premiered on August 9 and performed well at the box office, grossing $148 million domestically and $350 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.

As the case continues to unfold, both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni remain at the center of a growing legal and media storm, with the public eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this high-profile legal saga.