Justin Baldoni Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against The New York Times: Claims of a Manipulated Narrative

Justin Baldoni files $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging a manipulated narrative in a controversial article involving Blake Lively.

Justin Baldoni, director and co-star of It Ends With Us, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The legal action follows a December 2024 article that accused Baldoni of sexual harassment towards his co-star Blake Lively. Baldoni alleges that the story relied on a “manipulated and self-serving narrative” orchestrated by Lively.

The Core of the Controversy

The article, written by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate, accused Baldoni and other members of the production team of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively. According to the lawsuit, the publication deliberately cherry-picked text messages and communications out of context to support its claims while ignoring evidence that contradicted Lively’s allegations.

Central to the dispute is a text exchange from June 2023, where Lively informed Baldoni about updated script pages. The lawsuit claims this interaction was misrepresented to suggest that Baldoni repeatedly entered Lively’s make-up trailer uninvited while she was undressed or breastfeeding.

The New York Times Responds

A spokesperson for The Times defended the article, stating that it was thoroughly reported, based on thousands of documents, and accurately quoted. They added that the plaintiffs have yet to point out any factual errors in the story.

The Lawsuit’s Broader Allegations

Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, accuses The Times of libel, promissory fraud, and breach of implied contract. The suit also alleges that Lively used these accusations as a strategy to seize unilateral control of the film’s production. Meanwhile, Lively’s representatives deny the claims and insist the matter will be resolved in court.

With its record-breaking box office success and high-profile feud, this off-screen drama has captured Hollywood’s attention, promising further revelations as the case unfolds in court.