Justin Baldoni; Blake Lively.Photo:Gregory Pace/Shutterstock;Taylor Hill/WireImage
Gregory Pace/Shutterstock;Taylor Hill/WireImage
Blake Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane is speaking out afterJustin Baldoni’s attorney shared his plans to launch a counter-lawsuit that will include allegations that Sloane planted stories in the press.
Lively’s publicist is now pushing back at one of the reported claims in the impending suit.
According to theDaily Mail’s report, Baldoni’s counter-lawsuit will claim that the subpoenaed messages included in Lively’s complaint were presented out of context, and allege that Lively’s filing was a ploy to rebuild her image following the negative press she received during theIt Ends with Uspress tour.
Sloane denies these claims. She says she did not originate any stories about HR complaints on the set of the adaptation of theColleen Hoover novel, and was actually informed that the press had learned of them through a relative of a member of Baldoni’s PR team.
Publicist Leslie Sloane.Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Avra Madison
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Avra Madison
Baldoni’s lawyer confirmed toDeadlineon Dec. 28 that plans to follow a countersuit are in the works.
“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Freedman said in a statement to Deadline.
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In the complaint, which comes months afterrumors of a feudbetween the costars swirled, the actress outlines dozens of allegations against Baldoni (who starred in, produced and directed the movie), members of the film’s production team and the individuals said to be involved in the alleged smear campaign against her.
Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni.Jeff Spicer/Getty; Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Jeff Spicer/Getty; Dia Dipasupil/Getty
The complaint also alleges that ahead ofIt Ends with Us' August premiere, Baldoni, fearing that Lively would go public with her negative on-set experiences, enlisted a team to “bolster” his credibility and “eviscerate” his costar’s reputation.
Freedman told PEOPLE in a statement that Lively’s complaint was to “fix her negative reputation.” He also said that her allegations are “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”
source: people.com
