Justin Baldoni Sues New York Times Over Blake Lively

Justin Baldoni has launched a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times following claims the outlet made about his alleged involvement in a smear campaign against his "It Ends With Us" co-star, Blake Lively. The Times published a piece suggesting Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory PR strategy after Lively accused him and his team of sexual harassment, detailed in a complaint to California's Civil Rights Department. Baldoni’s suit argues that the article, deemed "meticulously and responsibly reported" by the Times, manipulated and misrepresented context in Lively’s narrative for sensational headlines. This is prepared by SSP.

In response, Baldoni's legal team stated the Times omitted crucial evidence countering Lively's claims, including texts that supposedly contradict her accusations of unrequested entries into her makeup trailer while she was breastfeeding. Both sides have released various documentation to uphold their versions of events and exclude themselves from culpability. Lively also alleged that Baldoni's associates helped spread defamatory stories against her, further maneuvering public opinion with manipulated social media narratives.

As accusations and legal actions mount on both fronts, The Times, along with Baldoni and his colleagues, maintain their positions. The newspaper vows to fiercely defend its integrity and claim adherence to methodical, truthful reporting. Meanwhile, Lively's legal counsel foresees facing all accusations in court, continuing to support her claims of defamatory strategic retaliations by Baldoni's team. As Baldoni and Lively prepare to confront these charges legally, the courtroom seems set to be the arena for resolving their high-profile disputes.

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