Dec 24, 2024
The ongoing controversy surrounding actor and director Justin Baldoni escalated on Tuesday as his former publicist, Jennifer Jones, filed a lawsuit in New York state court. Jones, who owns the PR firm Jonesworks, accused Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios, and several others, including former Jonesworks employee Jennifer Abel and crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan, of orchestrating a smear campaign against her and allegedly conspiring to discredit actress Blake Lively, who has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment.
Key Allegations
Jennifer Jones’ lawsuit names Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Abel, Nathan, and unnamed defendants, alleging violations such as breach of contract, defamation, and tortious interference. The lawsuit comes just days after Lively filed a formal complaint alleging Baldoni harassed her during the production of It Ends With Us, a film directed by Baldoni. Lively’s complaint includes alleged text messages among Baldoni, Abel, and Nathan, suggesting they worked to undermine her claims.
Jones alleges that Abel and Nathan conspired to defame her and steal proprietary information from Jonesworks, which led to Abel starting her own PR firm and taking on Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios as clients. This, according to Jones, violates contracts held by both Baldoni and Abel with Jonesworks.
The lawsuit further claims that Nathan, whom Jones opposed hiring, collaborated with Abel to poach Baldoni and Wayfarer as clients while defaming Jones. Jones states that Nathan and Abel’s alleged smear campaign against Lively did not align with Jonesworks’ values, asserting that she had distanced herself from their strategies and advocated for a positive approach to preserve Baldoni’s reputation.
The Alleged Smear Campaign
According to Jones’ lawsuit, text messages between Abel and Nathan reveal a coordinated effort to harm Jones’ reputation. The lawsuit quotes Abel as stating she was “going to war” against Jones and alleging Nathan encouraged Baldoni to leave Jonesworks. The text messages also include criticisms of Baldoni, with Abel referring to him as “pompous” and “unlikeable” and predicting failure for his film.
Jones claims the defendants planted negative stories about her in the media and created websites to harm her reputation. These efforts, the lawsuit alleges, were financially motivated, even though Abel and Nathan reportedly held negative personal opinions about Baldoni.
Denials and Counterclaims
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has denied Lively’s allegations, calling them “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” Abel has also denied orchestrating a smear campaign, stating that the allegations are based on “cherry-picked” text messages and claiming that no negative PR effort was launched against Lively.
Abel further alleges that Lively’s team planted negative stories about Baldoni to pressure him into meeting their demands for the film’s publicity campaign. She also provided evidence suggesting she resigned from Jonesworks rather than being fired, countering Jones’ claims.
What To Watch For
Jones is seeking a jury trial and damages for breach of contract and defamation. The lawsuit also accuses the defendants of planting false information to discredit her and influencing other employees to leave Jonesworks.
Meanwhile, Lively’s legal complaint is still under review by the California Civil Rights Department, which must issue a “right to sue” notice before her case can proceed to court. It remains to be seen whether Baldoni or Abel will file countersuits against Jones.
Broader Context
The controversy comes amidst heightened scrutiny of workplace misconduct in Hollywood, with both the entertainment industry and its associated PR networks facing calls for greater transparency and accountability. It Ends With Us, which sparked much of the controversy, has drawn criticism for its handling of domestic violence themes, adding another layer of complexity to the public fallout.
While the lawsuits progress, questions remain about the ethics of PR practices and the extent of personal accountability in managing celebrity reputations. Both Jones and Baldoni face intense public and legal scrutiny as the legal battles unfold.