Washington [US], December 25 : Amber Heard has spoken out following the sexual harassment allegations made by actress Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director on It Ends With Us. Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to damage her reputation.
Heard, who is no stranger to media scrutiny after her own high-profile legal battles, shared her thoughts on social media’s role in shaping public perception. In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the 37-year-old actress, now living in Spain, called social media “the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’ I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
Her remarks mirror those made during her own defamation trial against ex-husband Johnny Depp, where the media’s influence played a crucial role in shaping the public narrative. Notably, Justin Baldoni hired crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan in 2023, who had previously worked on Depp’s legal team during his defamation case against Heard. Nathan left her position at Hiltzik Strategies in October 2023 to start her own firm.
Lively’s lawsuit, filed in December, accuses Baldoni and his team of engaging in a “social manipulation” campaign after she accused him of harassment on the It Ends With Us set. The lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and Nathan strategized to “bury” Lively’s allegations. One of the text exchanges in the complaint reportedly shows Nathan stating, “We can’t write we will destroy her,” in reference to discrediting Lively.
Lively’s accusations include Baldoni making inappropriate comments, showing nude videos or images of women during filming, and discussing his alleged pornography addiction and sexual experiences. She also claims he made unprofessional remarks about her weight. Lively demanded these actions cease in a meeting attended by Baldoni, the film’s crew, and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
In a statement, Lively expressed hope that her legal action would expose the “sinister retaliatory tactics” used to target those who speak out against misconduct. “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she said.
Baldoni has strongly denied Lively’s allegations, calling them “serious and categorically false.” His attorney, Bryan Freedman, suggested that Lively’s claims were an attempt to repair her reputation, which he argues was negatively affected by her actions during the film’s press tour. He further criticized the media coverage of the situation, stating, “TAG PR must be the most powerful group of publicists the world has ever seen for it to be able to completely change the perception of both Amber Heard and Blake Lively.”
In a significant development, WME, a major talent agency, dropped Baldoni as a client following the news of Lively’s lawsuit. WME also represents both Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.