Justin Baldoni sues Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation and asks for $400 million

The director Justin Baldoni sued the actor this Thursday in New York Ryan Reynolds y a Blake Livelyhis co-star in the film It Ends With Usshortly after she accused him of sexual harassment during the recording of the film, as well as a subsequent smear campaign.

In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Big Apple, Baldoni accuses the acting couple, Leslie Sloane—Lively’s publicist—and the Vision PR representation agency, of civil extortion, defamation, and breach of the implied covenant of goodwill. faith and loyalty at work, among other things.

Baldoni’s lawyers ask the court to hold a trial and for their client to receive, at least, 400 million dollars in damages.

The producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios and publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan also participate in the lawsuit, the latter at the center of the controversy for her extensive participation in the alleged smear campaign against Blake Lively.

Last December, the actress accused both Baldoni and Wayfarer studios of embarking on a “multi-level plan” to damage Lively’s reputation after she complained about “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” suffered during the filming.

The plan, according to the lawsuit, included a social media campaign and news publishing to damage Lively’s reputation.

In Thursday’s complaint, Baldoni’s lawyers allege that Lively “deliberately and systematically took their film from plaintiffs” and also “used threats and extortion” to prevent her colleagues from “attending her own premiere while she was basking in the spotlight.” “.

“Ultimately, this isn’t a case of celebrities attacking each other in the press. This is about two of the most powerful stars in the world using their enormous power to wrest an entire movie from the hands of its director and his film studio.” production,” they argue.

On January 2, Baldoni also sued The New York Times for defamation by publishing his co-star’s complaint.

In this case, he sought compensation of $250 million in damages for having published an article “riddled with inaccuracies, misrepresentations and omissions” based on Lively’s “selfish narrative.”