Legal Action Filed by Baldoni, Wayfarer, and Others Against The New York Times on December 31, 2024

On December 31, 2024, a coalition including Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations initiated legal proceedings against The New York Times.

The lawsuit, which has been acquired by E! News, accuses The New York Times of committing libel, engaging in false light invasion of privacy, committing promissory fraud, and violating an implied-in-fact contract. This legal action stems from a report that alleged a retaliatory smear campaign conducted by the plaintiffs against Blake Lively after she raised concerns regarding alleged misconduct on the film set.

The plaintiffs assert that the report is “false” and that it relies heavily on Lively’s CRD complaint. They refute the allegations, claiming that the communications referenced in the article and the complaint were misrepresented and taken out of context.

According to the lawsuit, “Despite its assertion of having ‘reviewed these along with other documents,’ the Times predominantly utilized Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” adding, “it essentially copied her claims while ignoring substantial evidence that contradicted her assertions and revealed her true intentions.”

Furthermore, the plaintiffs contend that it was actually Lively who orchestrated a calculated smear campaign against them, a claim that she has denied.

In response, The New York Times has stated its intention to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.” The publication emphasized, “The duty of an independent news organization is to pursue the facts wherever they may lead,” asserting that their article was thoroughly and responsibly reported. It was based on a meticulous review of thousands of original documents, including text messages and emails that were accurately quoted and presented in detail within the article.”