Stephanie Jones sues actor and PR team, accusing them of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively
In the latest twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding Justin Baldoni, a former publicist for the actor has filed a lawsuit, claiming that she was wrongfully implicated in a smear campaign aimed at Blake Lively. Stephanie Jones, founder of Jonesworks PR firm, alleges that her ex-employee Jennifer Abel, along with Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios and crisis PR specialist Melissa Nathan, conspired to defame Lively in retaliation for her complaints about Baldoni’s alleged misconduct on the set of their film It Ends With Us.
Jones claims that Abel and Nathan worked secretly with Baldoni to target Lively, with the intention of ruining her reputation. She says she was unaware of the plans and was blamed for the campaign after she fired Abel in August. According to the lawsuit, these actions led to contract breaches and the loss of clients, including Baldoni and Wayfarer, who left Jonesworks after the alleged conspiracy.
The lawsuit follows Blake Lively’s sexual harassment complaint, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, which details allegations against Baldoni. The Gossip Girl alum accuses Baldoni of unwanted physical intimacy, coercing her into more nudity for the film, sharing unsolicited personal details about his sex life, and attempting to tarnish her reputation through a PR campaign.
As Lively’s legal battle unfolds, support for the actress has poured in from various quarters, including from her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars and director Paul Feig, all voicing their solidarity against the alleged smear tactics. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s podcast co-host Liz Plank resigned following the public allegations, and his award from Vital Voices Global Partnership was rescinded.
This legal clash marks the latest chapter in a saga that has rocked Hollywood, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding Baldoni and the It Ends With Us production.
