Blake Lively’s legal team has petitioned a Texas court to depose Jed Wallace, a crisis consultancy expert allegedly involved in a smear campaign against the actress. The controversy began when Lively claimed Justin Baldoni engaged in unprofessional and sexually harassing conduct while working on their summer 2024 film It Ends With Us.
Wallace, 54, runs a high-profile consultancy that specializes in shaping public perception through social media manipulation. He has been linked to Wayfarer, the production company behind It Ends With Us, as well as other prominent clients like Johnny Depp and Johnny Knoxville.
The allegations against Wallace stem from his connections to Justin Freedman, a lawyer accused of orchestrating deepfake stories and defamation claims to leverage higher settlements. Freedman’s law firm has denied these allegations, but an unnamed consultant claimed they used fake social media accounts and counterfeit websites to harm opponents and their companies.
Experts describe the “social manipulation” campaign as increasingly common in the entertainment industry, where social media often drives traditional media’s narratives. Crisis communications experts warn that such tactics can be expensive, with subcontractors operating bot and sock puppet accounts for pennies per post.
As the dueling litigation unfolds, Wallace’s role in the controversy remains a mystery. His qualifications in addiction treatment are unknown, and his experience handling communications for rehabs is disputed. Despite this, he has been linked to prominent players in the recovery community, including Heather Hayes of A&E’s Intervention.
The case highlights the blurred lines between crisis communications and smear campaigns. As social media continues to shape public discourse, experts caution that such tactics can be used to obfuscate the truth and harm opponents’ reputations.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/justin-baldoni-alleged-fixer-jed-wallace-bryan-freedman-1236135226