Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Address Legal Battle Over Extortion Claims

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A group of production companies and executives has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, marking a significant escalation in an ongoing dispute that has captured Hollywood’s attention.

The lawsuit, filed on December 31, includes plaintiffs Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations. According to court documents obtained by E! News, the plaintiffs are accusing the newspaper of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied-in-fact contract.

At the center of the dispute is a New York Times article that reported on an alleged retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs supposedly conducted against actor Blake Lively. The article claimed this campaign began after Lively raised concerns about what she characterized as misconduct on a film set.

The plaintiffs vehemently deny these accusations, claiming the newspaper’s reporting was “false” and relied heavily on Lively’s complaint filed with the Civil Rights Department (CRD). They further contend that messages cited in both the article and the complaint were presented out of context, distorting their meaning.

“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents,’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” the lawsuit states. It further alleges that the newspaper lifted Lively’s account “nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”

In a striking counteraccusation, the plaintiffs claim, “It was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.” Lively has denied this allegation.

The lawsuit represents a significant financial and reputational risk for the parties involved. For the production companies, particularly smaller entities like Wayfarer Studios, the ongoing public dispute could impact future projects and industry relationships. The $250 million figure suggests the plaintiffs believe substantial damages have resulted from the Times’ reporting.

The New York Times has issued a statement in response, pledging to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.” The newspaper stands firmly behind its reporting practices and the article in question.

“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” the Times stated to E! News. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.”

This case highlights the increasingly contentious relationship between media organizations and the subjects of their reporting, particularly in the entertainment industry where reputations directly impact career opportunities and business prospects.

Media law experts note that cases like this often face significant hurdles, as plaintiffs must prove not only that published information was false but also that it was published with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth when public figures are involved.

The lawsuit comes at a time when Hollywood continues to grapple with workplace conduct issues in the post-#MeToo era. The industry has seen increased scrutiny of on-set behavior and power dynamics, with more performers willing to speak publicly about their experiences.

Neither the court documents nor statements from either side have specified the exact nature of the misconduct Lively allegedly reported, nor details about the production where these events supposedly took place.

As the case proceeds, it will likely draw significant attention from both entertainment and media circles, potentially setting precedents for how disputes between media organizations and the subjects of their reporting are resolved in high-profile cases.