The New York Times has formally requested a federal judge to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit, as reported by Variety. This legal battle has emerged from a December 21 article titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” which disclosed that actress Blake Lively had filed a civil rights complaint against Baldoni, her co-star and director in the film It Ends With Us.
NYT Argues Baldoni’s Lawsuit Lacks Merit
Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges that The New York Times collaborated with Lively and her public relations team to publish the article, which detailed claims that he and his representatives orchestrated a campaign to tarnish Lively’s reputation. This retaliation was purportedly in response to her raising concerns about Baldoni’s behavior on set.
In its court filing, The New York Times contends that Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer, are attempting to draw the publication into their ongoing dispute with Lively. The newspaper asserts that it engaged in legitimate newsgathering and reporting regarding the conflict, emphasizing that Baldoni’s lawsuit presents a “one-sided tale” crafted for sensational headlines rather than a substantive legal argument.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for the Times, defended the newspaper’s actions, stating, “As our motion shows, this case should never have been brought against The New York Times. Blake Lively raised serious concerns about the way she was treated on set and after the movie’s release. We did exactly what news organizations should do: we informed the public of the complaint she filed with the California Civil Rights Department.” She further accused Baldoni of attempting to undermine the Times’ reporting, labeling his lawsuit a “misbegotten campaign” that would not succeed in silencing the publication.
Blake Lively’s Team Speaks Out
While Baldoni’s representatives have yet to respond to the motion for dismissal, a spokesperson for Lively has publicly supported the Times’ request. The statement from Lively’s team characterized Baldoni’s lawsuit as “a shameless PR document that has no business in a court of law.” This assertion underscores the belief that Baldoni’s legal actions are more about managing public perception than addressing legitimate grievances.
Lively’s team also highlighted a perceived contradiction in Baldoni’s advocacy for believing women, suggesting that his response to her allegations is inconsistent with his previous stance. They referenced Lively’s amended complaint, which accuses Baldoni and his billionaire backer, Steve Sorowitz, of implementing a “social media combat plan” aimed at “burying” and “destroying” both Lively and the media that covered her claims.
Legal Developments and Timeline
Earlier this month, Baldoni’s legal team amended their initial complaint, introducing metadata from The New York Times’ website. This metadata allegedly indicates that the newspaper had access to Lively’s complaint at least 11 days prior to the publication of its report. This detail adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal dispute.
Baldoni originally filed his $250 million defamation lawsuit on the same day that Lively initiated her own legal action against him, his PR team, and Wayfarer. Following this, Wayfarer countersued, and two weeks later, The New York Times was added as a defendant in the case.
This unfolding legal saga not only highlights the tensions between the parties involved but also raises broader questions about the intersection of media reporting, public relations, and personal conduct within the entertainment industry. As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how the court navigates these complex issues and what implications it may have for all parties involved.
