Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues him and his PR team following Blake Lively’s complaint
A former publicist for Justin Baldoni alleges his current PR team conspired to harm her and steal her clients, in conjunction with their efforts to allegedly launch a “smear campaign” against Blake Lively.
A former publicist for actor Justin Baldoni alleges that his current publicity team conspired to harm her and steal her clients, in conjunction with their efforts to allegedly launch a “smear campaign” against his “It Ends With Us” co-star, Blake Lively.
In a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court on Tuesday, Stephanie Jones and her agency Jonesworks accuse Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel of breach of contract, claiming she violated her employment terms by setting up a competing firm and stealing documents and clients out from under Jones. It also accuses Abel of defamation, according to a copy of the suit.
Jones’ suit, which was first reported by The New York Times, comes days after a separate complaint filed by Lively with the California Civil Rights Department against some of the same defendants, alleging Baldoni sexually harassed her on set and then engaged in a retaliatory campaign facilitated by Abel and crisis communications representative Melissa Nathan. Nathan is also named as a defendant in Jones’ complaint, along with Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios.
Lively’s allegations have sent shock waves across the industry. Her complaint has also put the role that crisis PR firms play in the spotlight, with many online reexamining some of the negative headlines surrounding Lively during the promotional tour for “It Ends With Us.”
Jones represented Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios from 2017 to August of this year. Abel worked for Jonesworks from 2020 to August. Several of Abel’s text messages and emails, which the suit said were obtained via a subpoena of Jonesworks, were cited heavily in Lively’s complaint.
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