Justin Baldoni sued by ex-publicist amid Blake Lively complaint

The lawsuit is another hit for Justin Baldoni just days after co-star Blake Lively lodged a separate sexual harassment complaint.

Justin Baldoni’s ex-publicist is suing the It Ends With Us actor-director, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and his current publicity team for breach of contract over the alleged smear campaign against Blake Lively.

The lawsuit filed by publicist Stephanie Jones alleges that Baldoni’s current publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis expert Melissa Nathan “secretly conspired for months” to “publicly and privately attack” Ms Jones and her public relations firm Jonesworks.

Ms Jones claims that she and Jonesworks are now wrongly being blamed for the alleged “campaign to destroy” Lively’s reputation.

She alleges that Ms Abel worked to defame her and stole information about Jonesworks’ clients and work. After she was fired by Ms Jones, the publicist started a new company that took on both Baldoni and Wayfarer as clients.

Ms Jones’ lawsuit comes days after Blake Lively alleged sexual harassment and misconduct. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

Justin Baldoni was known for being an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. Picture: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

She alleges that this violated Ms Abel and Baldoni’s contracts with Jonesworks.

The 52-page document also accuses the publicist and crisis expert of pinning the “blame for this smear campaign” on Ms Jones when she had “no knowledge or involvement in it,” according to a copy of the suit originally obtained by the New York Times.

The legal action follows a since-deleted statement from Ms Abel on Monday addressing the original allegations filed by Lively.

Ms Abel mentioned “leaving her previous firm” which she was employed with at the time of the It Ends With Us campaign, before adding that she was part of a “team who all participated and a boss who oversaw,” The Hollywood Reporter reports.

As reported by the New York Times, the original complaint filed by Lively on Friday complains about inappropriate on-set behaviour during the production of It Ends With Us.

It alleges that Baldoni and Wayfarer productions orchestrated a campaign to “destroy her reputation” fearing the misconduct allegations would come to light.

Over the weekend, Baldoni has been dropped by his talent agency WME – which also represents Lively – while Vital Voices, a global non-for profit organisation that focuses on empowering women, have rescinded the Voices of Solidarity Award given to Baldoni on December 9.

It honoured “remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls.”

On Tuesday, Baldoni’s Man Enough podcast host Liz Plank exited the show.

“I will have more to share soon as I continue to process everything that has happened,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.

A chorus of celebrity voices have also thrown their support behind Lively, includingAmber Heard, Paul Feig, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and It Ends With Us co-stars, Brandon Sklenar and Jenny Slate, as well as the original book’s author, Colleen Hoover.

Originally published as Justin Baldoni sued by ex-publicist amid Blake Lively complaint