‘It Ends With Us’ Lawsuit Reveals Smear Campaign Against Blake Lively

Blake Lively’s lawsuit against It ends with us Co-star Justin Baldoni not only accuses her of sexual harassment on set, but also of a concerted attempt to vilify her online to promote the film.

Given Lively’s initial complaints against Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath — and after Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds blocked Baldoni on Instagram — Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios’ PR team and a crisis management expert outlined an advance strategy to shift online conversations to criticize Lively , according to a planning document that was later included in the Lively lawsuit and obtained by Rolling Stone.

“While there are several possible scenarios at play here that we should be prepared for, BL and her team should make their grievances public – through an obvious story or a subtle leak,” the crisis management team wrote.

“Given the fact that she had to compromise on the premiere, we assume she will move forward with it. Our recommendation is to get ahead of this narrative, acknowledge any misunderstandings and address them head-on. Ultimately, we must be prepared to deflate any story that comes along, as well as commentary and/or background narrative that BL and her team have put together, without being the louder opponent.”

The planning document continues: “Our team may also investigate the spread of stories about the use of feminism as a weapon and how people in BL’s circle, such as Taylor Swift, are accused of using these tactics to ‘bully’ to get what they want.”

Another exhibit accompanying Lively’s lawsuit, also obtained by Rolling Stone, contained a series of texts and emails between Baldoni, public relations manager Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan. In the correspondence, Baldoni initially worries that the planning document “doesn’t contain much defense” should Lively go on the offensive.

Abel and Nathan casually discussed Baldoni’s concerns. “We can’t write it down for him. We cannot write, we will destroy them,” Nathan wrote to Abel. “(Baldoni) has to look at it as an information document that we can be armed with. That’s all. Imagine a document containing everything he wants falling into the wrong hands.”

In a follow-up message, Nathan added: “You know we can bury anyone, but I can’t write that to (Baldoni).”

Two days later, on August 4, Abel confided to Nathan: “I’m thinking of spreading bits this week about how terrible it is to work with Blake… Just to get ahead of it.” “Same,” Nathan replied added that a friend, an editor at the Daily MailHe is “ready when we are.”

Baldoni then texted with a tweet about “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying many women,” which had over 19 million views at the time of sending. “This is what we would need,” Baldoni wrote, suggesting a similar strategy against Lively.

Baldoni’s team was pleased with the social media speculation and press coverage of Lively, despite some complaints on set, according to the news. “So are we in the clear now?! Did we survive?!” Abel asked Nathan on August 9th. “We survived,” Nathan replied. “All the press is so overwhelming.” We confused people. So many mixed messages. It’s actually really funny when you think about it.”

The next day, the PR team discussed shifting the narrative around the film to focus on “reactions from domestic violence survivors.” “The majority of social media is so pro-Justin and I don’t even agree with half of them lol,” Nathan wrote to Abel. “He doesn’t realize how lucky he is right now. We have to force him to realize how lucky he is.”

On August 16, Nathan – who previously claimed a friend from the Daily Mail was “ready” – shared the tabloid’s article with the headline “Is Blake Lively CANCELED?” “Wow. You really outdid yourself with this piece,” Abel said of the article. “That’s why you hired me, right?” Nathan replied. “I’m the best.”

In the lawsuit, filed against Baldoni, Heath, Abel, Nathan and others, Lively claims that after a “targeted, multichannel online attack” their business went outside the company It ends with us also suffered, with sales of her hair care company Blake Brown plunging nearly 80 percent in August due to the controversy.

Rumors of a feud between Lively and Baldoni first emerged in early August during the film’s promotional campaign, with Baldoni conducting solo interviews while Likely was often joined by her other co-stars at junkets and premieres. In interviews, Lively — who also produced the film — gushed about the cast and crew, but never mentioned Baldoni, the director who she also made out with on screen. A Rolling Stone The report soon confirmed speculation about the behind-the-scenes drama.

Lively said in a statement to the New York Times“I hope my legal action will help lift the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics that harm people who speak out about wrongdoing and protect others who may be targeted.”

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said diversity in a statement that Lively’s lawsuit was an attempt to “enhance her negative reputation,” adding that the claims were “false, outrageous and deliberately salacious with the intent to publicly offend.”