Blake Lively’s publicist says accusations she launched smear campaign against Justin Baldoni are ‘false’

Blake Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane denies that stories intended to damage Justin Baldoni’s reputation are being spread during the release of It Ends with Us.

Sloane issued a statement distancing herself from the stories detailing complaints about Baldoni’s behavior on the set of the film, after Ny Breaking.com first reported that the actor-director, 40, has a countersuit ready to be filed when the new year starts.

On Saturday, Sloane – who runs Vision PR, the firm that represents Lively, 37 – denied posting stories intended to tarnish Baldoni’s image, amid friction between him and Lively during the filming of the romantic drama.

“It is clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are implying that I fabricated press stories about HR complaints on set, which is not true,” Sloane told Deadline in a statement.

Sloane referred to details in the 80-page legal complaint filed by Lively on Dec. 20: “Please read Ms. Lively’s complaint and the complaint filed by Jonesworks LLC and Stephanie Jones, which contains details of the campaign against my client.”

Ny Breaking.com has reached out to Sloane and Baldoni representatives for comment on the developing story.

Sloane, in her statement, provided a timeline of events she was aware of regarding the publication of stories about complaints against Baldoni on set, noting that Baldoni PR chief Melissa Nathan and Page Six editor Sara Nathan, who are both involved in the situation, brothers or sisters.

“On 8/11, I was contacted by Sara Nathan (Melissa Nathan’s sister) who forwarded an anonymous tip that Page Six received about allegations of HR complaints on the set of It Ends with Us,” Sloane said. ‘Afterwards I was contacted by various press outlets with questions about allegations of HR complaints.

“When I reached out, I responded to press inquiries by referring them to Wayfarer or Sony for information on HR complaints.”

Sloane’s statement followed Ny Breaking.com’s exclusive report Friday that Baldoni and multiple associates are preparing to file a countersuit against Lively when the courts open on Jan. 2, while Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman vowed that the contents of the filing ” will shock everyone’. ‘

“I’m not going to say when or how many lawsuits we file, but when we file our first lawsuit, it will shock anyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false story,” Freedman said Saturday. Term.

Freedman said the contents of the countersuit “will be supported by real evidence and tell the true story” of how things transpired between the creatives and their respective publicity teams.

“In my 30-plus years of practice, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior deliberately fueled by media manipulation,” Freedman told the newspaper.

He added, “It reminds me of what NBC tried to do to Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union, and we all know how that turned out. Standby.’

Freedman said People On Sunday, the countersuit will shed light on “those who consider themselves untouchable.”

Freedman said, “This is not a response or a countersuit – it is a single-minded pursuit of the truth.”

Freedman also alluded to a December 21 story on the issue published by The New York Times, entitled “We can bury anyone’: in a Hollywood smear machine.

Freedman said that “this lawsuit will expose and expose the false and destructive narrative that was deliberately created by a trusted media publication that relied on nefarious sources and neglected a thorough fact-checking process to confirm the validity of these texts.”

As Ny Breaking.com previously reported, Baldoni’s business partner Jamey Heath will also be involved in the countersuit, as will the publicists cited in the complaint Lively filed just over a week ago.

In Lively’s legal complaint — which typically predates a formal lawsuit — Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her in multiple ways during the film’s production.

Lively said in the legal complaint that Baldoni barged into her trailer while she was breastfeeding her child; talked about his past addiction to adult films; talked about past sexual experiences with non-consensual implications; and asked her about details of her ‘intimate life’.

Lively’s legal team said in the complaint that Baldoni is “routinely deteriorating” [her] by finding ways to criticize her body and weight.”

Baldoni and select associates worked together to create a negative public campaign at her expense, with the intent to damage her reputation, Lively — who is married to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, 48 ​​— said in the complaint.

“I hope my legal action will help pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak out about wrongdoing and help protect others who may be targeted,” Lively told the Times.

Baldoni has dismissed all claims against him in Lively’s legal filing.

In the wake of Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni has faced a number of fallout, including a lawsuit from a former publicist; and being dropped by the agency WME, which also represents Lively and Reynolds.

The organization Vital Voices said in a Dec. 24 statement that it had rescinded an honor given to the actor-director earlier this month, The Voices of Solidary Award.

“The Voices of Solidarity Award honors notable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating for women and girls,” the group said.

Vital Voices subsequently said that the allegations in the complaint filed by Lively were “disturbing,” “repugnant” and “contrary to the values” the company held dear, leading to Baldoni rescinding credit for Baldoni.

Among the expected claims in the countersuit, as previously reported by Ny Breaking.com, are allegations that Lively’s employees misled by releasing out-of-context WhatsApp messages.

Other expected claims in the countersuit include that Lively’s representative used media outlets to undermine Baldoni’s reputation; and that Lively’s December 20 complaint was filed to save her reputation after a series of negative publicity.

The timing of Lively’s complaint “doesn’t make sense” as presented, an insider previously told Ny Breaking.com.

“Do you seriously think that Blake Lively, married to one of the most powerful men in the city and represented by one of the most powerful publicists, will meekly watch as she is sexually harassed on a movie set and hang on for a while? four months after the film is released before you file a complaint?’ the insider asked.

The insider confirmed that although Lively and Baldoni “never got along” and “rubbed each other the wrong way,” the actress “has taken snippets of conversations they had when he was trying to be her friend, when they were friendly, and armed them.”

It Ends with Us, which also starred Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, arrived in theaters on August 9 and was a hit with audiences. According to Box Office Mojo, it earned $148 million at the domestic box office and $350 million worldwide.