Smear Campaign Allegations Rock “It Ends With Us” set
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Table of Contents
A brewing scandal surrounding the film “It Ends With Us” has escalated into a legal battle, with allegations of sexual harassment, smear campaigns, and breach of contract.
At the heart of the controversy is Blake Lively, the film’s star, who has filed a complaint against director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on set. Lively alleges that Baldoni engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour during the 2023 filming.
Lively claims she raised these concerns with her attorneys before filming resumed after the Hollywood strikes, but the situation reportedly deteriorated during the film’s promotional tour.
Adding another layer to the conflict, Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones, has filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his current publicity team, and his company. Jones alleges that Baldoni breached their contract and that his publicists orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively.
Jones’ lawsuit states, “To this day, Abel and Nathan continue to point the finger falsely at Jones now that their own misconduct is coming to light, and to defame and attack Jones in the industry.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Baldoni, fearing public accusations of sexual misconduct from Lively, directed his publicists to “bury” her reputation.
Lively’s legal team obtained text messages from Baldoni’s publicity team, allegedly revealing their plot to damage Lively’s image, through a pre-litigation subpoena sent to Jones.
Attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni, Abel, and Nathan, has threatened to sue Jones for releasing the contents of abel’s phone to Lively’s legal team.
Former Employee Accused of Sabotage in Explosive Lawsuit
A New York-based entrepreneur is alleging that a former employee and a business associate engaged in a clandestine plot to dismantle her company and damage her reputation. The lawsuit, filed in state court, accuses the former employee, identified as Abel, of orchestrating a months-long scheme to poach clients and undermine the company from within. According to the lawsuit, Abel’s alleged treachery came to light after she was terminated. “Abel and Nathan’s covert take down and smear campaigns were revealed in black and white on Abel’s company-issued phone following her termination, which Jonesworks forensically preserved and examined in detail after receiving a subpoena for the phone’s contents,” the lawsuit states. “Jones discovered the breadth and intensity of Abel and Nathan’s duplicity from these records, including that Abel was actively encouraging other Jonesworks clients and employees to leave Jonesworks while Abel was still employed there,” the suit further alleges. The lawsuit portrays a calculated effort to sabotage Jonesworks. It claims that abel conspired to ”steal” clients and tarnish the company’s standing in the industry, with the suit alleging that Nathan actively encouraged Abel’s actions to gain increased access to those clients. “This scheme ultimately inflicted serious damage on Jones and Jonesworks,” the lawsuit asserts. Adding fuel to the fire, the lawsuit alleges that Abel and Nathan deliberately published negative articles about Jones in the press, citing a specific piece published in Business Insider last summer. The suit lists a number of legal violations, including breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and defamation.## Archyde Exclusive: Unpacking the “It Ends With Us” Controversy
**Interviewer:** welcome back to Archyde Now, I’m [Your name]. Today we’re diving deep into the explosive allegations surrounding the set of the upcoming film “it Ends With Us”. with us is entertainment lawyer and media commentator, [Alex Reed Name], thank you so much for joining us.
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me.
**interviewer:** The situation appears to be evolving by the day. Can you give our viewers a rundown of the core accusations at play?
**Alex Reed:** Certainly. At its heart, we have two separate but intertwined lawsuits. First, we have Blake Lively, the film’s lead actress, accusing director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on set during filming in 2023. She claims she flagged these concerns with her legal team before filming resumed after the Hollywood strikes, but the situation apparently worsened during the promotional tour.
**Interviewer:** That’s a serious accusation. And it seems there’s more?
**Alex Reed:** Precisely. Adding another layer of complexity is a lawsuit filed by Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones. She’s suing Baldoni, his current publicity team, and his company, alleging that they orchestrated a smear campaign against her after her departure, possibly to damage her reputation and business prospects.
**Interviewer:** Wow. So we have alleged sexual harassment on one hand and potential reputational damage on the othre. This certainly paints a troubling picture. What are the potential ramifications for the film itself?
**Alex Reed:** It’s still early days, but the fallout is already notable. Both lawsuits will likely drag on for a considerable time, casting a shadow over the film’s release and potential success at the box office. The controversy may also lead to boycotts or calls for the film to be shelved altogether.
**Interviewer:** What about the careers of those involved?
**Alex Reed:** This could be career-defining for everyone involved. If Lively’s accusations are substantiated, it could severely damage Baldoni’s reputation and future prospects as a director and actor.
Jones’ lawsuit could also have a lasting impact on Baldoni’s public image and business dealings. Lively, however, stands to regain power and agency by speaking out, potentially bolstering her reputation as an advocate against misconduct.
**interviewer:** This is a developing story with potentially far-reaching consequences.
[Alex Reed Name], thank you for providing your expert analysis. We will continue to follow this story closely and bring you updates as they unfold. For now, we encourage our viewers to stay informed and engage in constructive conversations about these important issues.
[End Interview]
**Notes:**
* This interview format focuses on the key information gleaned from the provided text.
* The interview uses neutral language, avoiding any bias towards any party.
* The interviewer asks open-ended questions to encourage further elaboration from the Alex Reed.
* The conclusion emphasizes the ongoing nature of the situation and encourages viewer engagement.
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. This situation is truly a tangled web. At its heart, we have Blake Lively accusing director Justin baldoni of sexual harassment during filming. She’s also alleging that this harassment continued during the promotional tour, despite raising concerns with her legal team earlier.
Adding another layer of complexity, Baldoni’s former publicist, Steph Jones, has filed a separate lawsuit. Jones claims Baldoni, fearing exposure for the alleged misconduct, instructed his current publicists to launch a smear campaign against Lively to damage her reputation.
**Interviewer:** This seems incredibly serious, and there’s talk of text messages revealing this plot to damage Lively?
**Alex Reed:** That’s right. Lively’s legal team obtained these text messages through a subpoena sent to Jones. They reportedly reveal a very concerning plan. And now, Baldoni’s legal team is threatening to countersue Jones. its a real legal brawl, and it’s all playing out in the public eye.
**Interviewer:** The timing of this is especially interesting given the recent Hollywood strikes and the renewed focus on power dynamics within the industry. Do you think this case will have any broader implications?
**Alex Reed:** I think it perhaps exposes some very real issues that still plague Hollywood, especially regarding the power imbalance between stars and directors, and the culture of silence that can allow these situations to occur. This case could be a catalyst for change, but onyl time will tell. There’s a lot more of this story yet to unfold.
