Blake Lively attends the London screening of the movie "It Ends With Us" on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)
Blake Lively is facing a defamation lawsuit from Jed Wallace, a Texas-based crisis communications expert, after the actress linked him to a legal dispute involving her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, in connection with their film, It Ends With Us. Wallace, who runs Street Relations, filed the $7 million lawsuit in federal court in Texas, claiming he had no part in any efforts to tarnish Lively’s reputation, as she alleged.
The lawsuit stems from a much larger legal battle. Lively had previously filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his production company, and publicists, accusing them of sexual harassment and retaliation during the filming of It Ends With Us. She also claims that a coordinated effort was made to damage her public image after the film’s production. Wallace, although not named as a defendant in Lively’s suit, was mentioned in court papers and in a New York Times article published in December when Lively first filed her complaint.
In response to Wallace's lawsuit, Lively’s legal team dismissed it as a retaliatory move, claiming it was linked to her sexual harassment and retaliation complaints filed with the California Civil Rights Department. They expressed confidence that the lawsuit would be dismissed but also noted that they were glad Wallace had finally come forward, signaling that he too would face scrutiny in federal court.
The situation escalated further last week when Lively filed another request in Hays County, Texas, seeking a deposition from Wallace. In her filing, she accused him of being involved in a campaign orchestrated by publicists working with Baldoni. This campaign allegedly included the creation and distribution of negative content across social media and online forums, meant to harm Lively’s reputation.
However, Wallace’s lawsuit firmly denies any involvement in such actions, stating that neither he nor his company were in any way connected to the harassment or retaliation Lively described. The lawsuit also highlights that Lively’s own filings have not provided any factual evidence to back up her claims against him and his company.
The legal drama surrounding It Ends With Us has expanded, with Baldoni also filing his own federal lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni accused the couple of defamation and extortion, seeking $400 million in damages. Additionally, Baldoni took legal action against The New York Times for libel, while Lively’s former publicist filed a suit in support of the actress.
Despite the chaos, the film, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel, was a box office hit, grossing nearly $150 million domestically. However, the success was marred by ongoing legal battles surrounding the production and promotion of the film.
