Washington [US], December 25: Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni is facing growing legal challenges, including a breach of contract lawsuit filed by his former publicist, Steph Jones. The lawsuit, filed in New York State court this week, comes amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct made by Baldoni’s It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Baldoni, who both directed and starred in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, had entered into a one-year contract with Jones’ PR firm, Jonesworks, at a rate of USD 25,000 per month. However, in August, around the time the film was released, Baldoni reportedly severed ties with Jonesworks and moved his business to a new PR firm founded by his former publicist, Jennifer Abel.
Jones is now suing Baldoni for breach of contract, and the lawsuit also targets Abel and fellow publicist Melissa Nathan, accusing them of conspiring to damage Jones’ professional reputation. According to the lawsuit, after Baldoni’s departure, the publicists worked together with him in a smear campaign against Blake Lively.
Lively had previously accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the It Ends With Us set, filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department on December 23. In her complaint, Lively detailed how Baldoni and his team allegedly engaged in a “social manipulation” campaign to harm her reputation in retaliation for her accusations.
Lively’s legal team claims to have evidence, including text messages exchanged between Abel, Nathan, and Baldoni, suggesting a coordinated effort to “bury” her allegations and prevent a public scandal.
Baldoni has vehemently denied Lively’s accusations, calling them “shameful” and “categorically false.” In a statement, he rejected any wrongdoing and dismissed the claims as “serious and defamatory.”
However, the legal issues don’t stop there. The breach of contract lawsuit filed by Jones also accuses Abel of undermining Jonesworks and attempting to take its clients as she planned her departure from the firm. Jones claims Nathan encouraged Abel’s departure, and that this concerted effort caused significant harm to Jonesworks’ reputation and operations.
“This scheme ultimately inflicted serious damage on Jones and Jonesworks,” the lawsuit states.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the allegations against Baldoni and the ongoing disputes between the involved parties continue to capture attention.