In the article, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, claims that were heavily featured in The Times’ coverage. Baldoni, however, is pushing back, alleging the newspaper “cherry-picked” details and manipulated communications to mislead readers deliberately.
Baldoni Fires Back
According to court documents obtained by Variety, Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs—including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel—claim the story falsely portrayed Lively as a victim. They argue Lively herself led a “strategic and manipulative” campaign to take control of the film by making false harassment accusations.
The lawsuit also implicates Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging he pressured Baldoni’s agent to drop him and reprimanded the actor for purportedly “fat-shaming” Lively.
Attorney’s Statement
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, issued a strong statement, accusing The Times of abandoning journalistic ethics. “This smear campaign, orchestrated by Blake Lively and her team, relied on doctored evidence and omitted crucial details. The truth is on our side, and we have the communications to prove it,” Freedman said.
The New York Times Responds
In response, The New York Times defended its reporting, stating it reviewed “thousands of pages of original documents” and quoted texts and emails “accurately and at length.” A spokesperson added, “To date, Mr. Baldoni and his representatives have not identified a single error in the article. We stand by our reporting and plan to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
As the legal battle unfolds, the case shines a spotlight on Hollywood's power dynamics and the challenges of balancing public narratives with journalistic integrity.
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