Washington [USA], December 29: Actor and director Justin Baldoni is preparing to file a countersuit against Blake Lively, following her recent legal complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign during the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, revealed plans to file a counter-complaint, which he claims will “shock everyone” and unveil the true story behind the allegations.
Freedman has strongly denied Lively’s accusations, suggesting that they are part of a strategy to rebuild her public image. He also pointed to Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, as allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against Baldoni. The countersuit is expected to be filed when courts reopen after the New Year break.
“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing, but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Freedman stated, as quoted by Deadline.
Lively’s legal move has sparked widespread support from her co-stars and the film community. Her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars—America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel—have all publicly shown their solidarity. The trio shared a joint message on Instagram, expressing their support for Lively and criticizing the reported smear campaign against her.
“As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the message read. “Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.”
They also expressed concern over the exploitation of domestic violence survivor stories to discredit Lively’s calls for safety on set, calling it a “hypocrisy” and a form of retaliation against a woman speaking up. “We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others,” they concluded.
Author Colleen Hoover, whose 2016 novel It Ends With Us was adapted for the film, also voiced her support for Lively, praising her honesty and character in light of the lawsuit.
Lively has accused Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and others of misconduct, sexual harassment, and orchestrating a coordinated effort to tarnish her reputation. Her lawsuit has garnered significant attention, with Lively receiving continued backing from colleagues and the public.