Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign

A former publicist for actor-director Justin Baldoni filed a lawsuit on Dec 24 that adds a new dimension to an alleged campaign to undermine actress Blake Lively.

NEW YORK - The publicist, Ms Stephanie Jones, said she was forced out of representing Baldoni and his film studio amid concerns that Lively would go public with accusations of misconduct against him.

Ms Jones' lawsuit, filed in New York and alleging breach of contract, follows a separate legal complaint in California on Dec 21 by Lively. The actress asserted that Baldoni; his film studio, Wayfarer; and their public relations representatives retaliated against her after she raised her misconduct allegations during the filming of romance drama It Ends With Us (2024), which Baldoni directed and starred in. She also accused him of sexual harassment.