Justin Baldoni, director and star of “It Ends With Us,” is facing allegations of sexual harassment and a lawsuit from a former publicist, Stephanie Jones. Jones claims that her former employee Jennifer Abel conspired with Baldoni to launch a smear campaign against Blake Lively, who had previously filed a complaint against him.
Jones alleges that she was unaware of the plan and fired Abel in August after discovering what she was doing. However, it appears that Abel’s departure may not have been entirely voluntary. A source close to the situation suggests that Jones’ clients were “stolen” from her firm, implying that Baldoni may have intentionally pursued a relationship with Abel after their departure.
The lawsuit also reveals that Jones claims to have found texts and emails related to her work with Baldoni, which she turned over to Lively’s team. These messages appear in Lively’s 80-page complaint, which alleges that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of “It Ends With Us,” including improvising physical intimacy without rehearsal or discussion.
Supporters of Lively, including actress and author Colleen Hoover, have voiced their support for her, condemning the alleged smear campaign. The allegations have also led to the resignation of Liz Plank from Baldoni’s podcast, “Man Enough,” and the rescission of an award he received for advocating on behalf of women and girls.
The situation raises questions about accountability and the consequences of harassment. With multiple parties involved, it remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold.
Source: https://ew.com/justin-baldoni-ex-publicist-sues-over-alleged-blake-lively-smear-campaign-8766353