Dec. 31, 2024: Legal Action Initiated by Baldoni, Wayfarer, and Others Against The New York Times
On December 31, a coalition including Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations initiated a lawsuit against The New York Times. This significant legal action addresses serious allegations and claims that the newspaper has engaged in irresponsible journalism.
According to the lawsuit acquired by E! News, The New York Times faces accusations of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied-in-fact contract. The crux of the case centers around an article that purportedly depicted a retaliatory smear campaign involving the plaintiffs and actress Blake Lively, following her allegations regarding misconduct on a film set.
The plaintiffs assert that the report is “false,” claiming it relies solely on Lively?s complaint to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (CRD). They vehemently refute the allegations and argue that the messages referenced in both the article and the complaint have been misinterpreted and taken out of context, undermining the integrity of the report.
The lawsuit states, ?Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively?s unverified and self-serving narrative,” adding that it quoted her claims nearly verbatim while ignoring substantial evidence that contradicts her story and reveals her true intentions.
Additionally, the plaintiffs contend that it was Lively who orchestrated a calculated smear campaign, a claim she has categorically denied. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing narrative surrounding this high-profile case.
In response to the allegations, The New York Times has stated its intention to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.” The publication emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity, asserting, ?The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead.? The newspaper further elaborated that the article was ?meticulously and responsibly reported? based on a thorough examination of thousands of original documents, including text messages and emails that were quoted accurately and extensively in the article.
