Justin Baldoni sued by former publicist amid allegations of smear campaign against Blake Lively

Justin Baldoni, known for his role in It Ends With Us, has been sued by his former publicist, Steph Jones, as controversy involving his co-star Blake Lively deepens. Filed on Tuesday, the lawsuit also targets Baldoni’s company and current publicity team, alleging breach of contract and defamation according to TMZ

Jones, who owns Jonesworks, claims Baldoni violated their agreement to pay $25,000 per month for a year. She alleges he terminated the contract in August after Jennifer Abel, a Jonesworks publicist, left to start her own firm. The lawsuit accuses Abel and publicist Melissa Nathan of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively without Jones’ knowledge and shifting the blame onto her when the scandal surfaced as reported by TMZ

The allegations align with a complaint filed by Lively to the California Civil Rights Department. Lively accused Baldoni and his team of retaliating against her after she raised concerns of sexual harassment on set in 2023. Text messages subpoenaed by Lively’s legal team purportedly show Baldoni’s publicity team discussing ways to discredit Lively publicly.

Jones claims she discovered the extent of Abel and Nathan’s alleged actions after preserving Abel’s company-issued phone. She accuses them of recruiting clients to leave Jonesworks and planting defamatory stories about her in the press. Represented by attorney Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s team denies the allegations and has threatened legal action against Jones.

The lawsuit, filed in New York state court, accuses Abel and Nathan of defamation, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference. This case underscores the intricate dynamics of Hollywood disputes, intertwining professional rivalries, contractual conflicts, and allegations of misconduct, with potential far-reaching implications for the industry.