Data analyst examining Johnny Depp's bot campaign claims 80% of pro-Baldoni tweets are 'inorganic'

Most pro-Baldoni tweets in the Blake Lively case are fake or coordinated, analyst says, echoing Depp trial patterns.

The data analyst who uncovered bot-driven online support in the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard trial has found similar patterns in the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Zhouhan Chen, founder of Information Tracer, reports to The Guardian that more than 80% of pro-Baldoni tweets show signs of inorganic activity.

Chen reviewed the top 500 posts related to the ongoing Lively-Baldoni lawsuit and identified suspicious patterns including newly created accounts, repetitive posting, and single-topic behaviour. The tweets promote hashtags like #JusticeForJustinBaldoni and #BlakeLivelyIsALiar, and echo the coordinated content seen during the Depp-Heard trial in 2022.

Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us. Baldoni, who also directed and co-produced the film, has denied the claims and launched multiple countersuits. The legal battle includes allegations of reputational damage, PR manipulation, and defamation, with trial proceedings scheduled for March 2026.

Court filings from Lively’s legal team include text messages from Baldoni’s representatives that suggest an effort to shape online sentiment. In one message, PR adviser Melissa Nathan tells Baldoni’s publicist, Jennifer Abel, “You know we can bury anyone.” Baldoni’s legal team argues these messages are presented without full context and misrepresent their intent.

Chen’s latest analysis mirrors what he discovered during the Depp-Heard case, where bot activity and coordinated campaigns were found to have influenced public opinion online. He warns that such tactics are becoming common in high-profile disputes.

The Lively-Baldoni case has also drawn attention from conservative commentators, who have used it to reinforce cultural narratives about gender and media bias. Experts say this fusion of politics and celebrity trials creates an environment where misinformation can spread quickly.