Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath File $250 Million Lawsuit Against The New York Times Amid Blake Lively's Harassment Allegations

The drama surrounding the set of It Ends With Us has escalated into a full-blown legal battle, with director Justin Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath filing a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. The lawsuit challenges the publication’s coverage of Blake Lively’s harassment claims, accusing the outlet of publishing a biased and defamatory article.

The Core Allegations

Blake Lively, 37, had previously filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment on the film's set. She accused Heath of showing her and her assistant a video she initially thought was pornography. According to Lively, the video depicted a nude woman, which Heath later clarified was his wife giving birth during a home birth. Lively’s lawsuit described the incident as inappropriate and deeply unsettling.

However, Baldoni and Heath dispute these claims. In their lawsuit, they provided a screenshot of the video, showing a woman holding her newborn after giving birth. Their legal team argued that the video was shared as part of a creative discussion for a birthing scene in the film. “This was a deeply personal, non-pornographic video with no sexual overtones,” their lawyers stated.

Additional Allegations by Lively

Lively’s lawsuit also accused Baldoni and Heath of other inappropriate behavior, including uninvited visits to her trailer while she was breastfeeding, sexually charged conversations, and weight criticism. She claimed Baldoni even contacted her personal trainer to pressure her about losing weight.

Justin Baldoni has denied all allegations, calling them “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” His legal team suggested Lively’s lawsuit was an attempt to “fix her negative reputation” by smearing him.

Justin and Jamey Fight Back

In their lawsuit against The New York Times, Baldoni and Heath alleged the publication misrepresented Lively’s claims and ignored evidence that contradicted her narrative. They accused the outlet of cherry-picking and altering text messages to support Lively’s version of events.

“The Times compounded its journalistic failures by uncritically advancing Lively’s unsubstantiated claims,” their filing stated. Baldoni and Heath also submitted text messages they claim show Lively inviting them into her trailer, contradicting her allegations.

The Times Stands By Its Reporting

In response, a spokesperson for The New York Times defended the article, saying it was “meticulously and responsibly reported.” The publication claimed its reporters reviewed “thousands of pages of original documents” and accurately quoted text messages and emails.

What’s Next?

This legal dispute has captivated Hollywood and beyond, with both sides presenting starkly different narratives. As the lawsuits proceed, the truth behind the allegations will likely come under closer scrutiny, with reputations and careers hanging in the balance.

Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.