Blake Lively's publicist denies team sabotaged Justin Baldoni
- Blake Lively has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and emotional distress linked to his conduct on set.
- Justin Baldoni's lawyer has announced a countersuit, claiming Lively's PR team was responsible for damaging narratives against Baldoni.
- The outcome of this dispute may address significant issues regarding emotional distress claims and related tax implications.
In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, alleging severe emotional distress and sexual harassment on the set of the film *It Ends With Us*. Lively accused Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign against her following her complaints about inappropriate behaviors. The lawsuit outlines specific requests Lively made to the studio regarding Baldoni's conduct, which Sony Pictures is said to have approved. Allegations include Baldoni's problematic behavior, such as showing nude images and discussing sexual conquests, creating a hostile work environment for Lively. In response to these charges, Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman announced an upcoming countersuit meant to challenge Lively's allegations and claim that her public relations team was actually responsible for any negative press regarding Baldoni. Freedman emphasized that the counter-lawsuit would contain significant surprises and provide evidence to support Baldoni's stance, asserting that Lively's claims were based on fabricated narratives manipulated through media. Additionally, Blake Lively's publicist, Leslie Sloane, denied accusations of coordinating smear tactics against Baldoni, asserting she merely responded to media inquiries based on information received from other parties. Both parties are currently preparing legal strategies, and implications about possible tax liabilities from any potential settlements have been raised, as damages for emotional distress in such cases are generally taxable.