RPJ’s Nicole Page and Ethan Krasnoo’s “Forbes” Article on Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: A Hollywood Legal Battle Over Harassment, Defamation, and Smear Campaigns

In their latest article for Forbes, RPJ’s Nicole Page and Ethan Krasnoo offer a comprehensive analysis of the intensifying legal dispute between Hollywood’s Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, marked by complex allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and defamation—issues Ms. Page has previously examined here and here.

In response to Lively’s lawsuits alleging sexual harassment by Baldoni in connection with the actors’ shooting of the film “It Ends With Us” and his retaliatory smear campaign following her complaints, Baldoni has filed a countersuit against Lively, alleging defamation amongst other claims. Baldoni contends that Lively’s allegations are false and that she damaged his career by excluding him from the film’s final cut. In their examination, Ms. Page and Mr. Krasnoo delve into the specific claims, including Baldoni’s firm denial of the harassment allegations as well as his assertion that interactions were strictly professional and aligned with the film’s scripted requirements. (Ms. Page has also provided insight into Baldoni’s responses to Lively’s claims here and here).

What makes this case particularly unique, Ms. Page and Mr. Krasnoo note, is the involvement of two high-profile celebrities and their respective influence, as compared to the typical power dynamics seen in many #MeToo cases. Ms. Page and Mr. Krasnoo also analyze the dispute’s possible blurring of the lines between on-screen intimacy and off-camera misconduct, which raise nuanced legal and ethical questions. Moreover, the attorneys analyze the impact of the dispute allegations against the parties’ publicists. Ms. Page and Mr. Krasnoo note that the outcome of this dispute is poised to have profound implications for how Hollywood addresses issues of harassment and publicity moving forward.

Read the full Forbes article here.