‘It Ends With Us’ Actor and Director and His Publicists Sue The Times for Libel

Thu Jan 02 14:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Baldoni Sues New York Times for $250 Million Over Blake Lively Smear Campaign Article

**Los Angeles, CA** – Director Justin Baldoni and his team have filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging the newspaper published a false and damaging article about Blake Lively’s claims of a smear campaign. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, contends that a December 21st article by Megan Twohey and Mike McIntire unfairly presented Lively’s account as fact, ignoring evidence that contradicted her allegations.

The suit claims the article, which centered on Lively’s assertion that Baldoni and his team retaliated against her for complaining about misconduct on the set of “It Ends With Us,” relied on a “self-serving narrative.” Baldoni’s legal team argues the article selectively omitted text messages and other information that would have countered Lively’s version of events. They specifically accuse the Times of publishing a misleading headline that falsely portrayed Baldoni as orchestrating a retaliatory PR campaign.

The lawsuit also includes claims against Melissa Nathan, a crisis management expert accused by Lively of manipulating news coverage and social media. Baldoni’s legal team counters that Lively herself attempted to seize control of the film’s production and that her publicist subsequently sought to damage Baldoni’s reputation.

Bryan Freedman, the attorney representing Baldoni and five others, asserts that the article’s central thesis is “categorically false and easily disproven.”

The New York Times responded with a statement saying they will “vigorously defend” against the lawsuit, maintaining that their article was “meticulously and responsibly reported” based on “thousands of pages of original documents,” including text messages and emails accurately quoted in the piece. The Times emphasized its commitment to following the facts. The legal battle promises to be intense, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.

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