Justin Baldoni has officially turned the legal system into a primetime drama. Yes, the It Ends With Usactor and director has launched a $250 million libel lawsuit against none other than The New York Times. Thatβs rightβBaldoniβs coming for the Gray Lady like she owes him rent.
Scene 1: The Spark That Lit the Fuse
It all started when Blake Lively, Baldoniβs It Ends With Us co-star, filed a legal complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and kicking off what she called a βsmear campaign.β Now, in true Hollywood fashion, Baldoni wasnβt about to let this plot twist go unchallenged. Just a week laterβbecause no one rushes a dramatic entranceβhe hit back with his own lawsuit, claiming the Times went full creative-writing mode on his emails and texts. According to him, they βcherry-pickedβ and Frankensteined his communications into a story spicier than it had any right to be.
Scene 2: The Times Claps Back
Enter The New York Times, sipping its coffee and saying, βOh, you thought?β A spokesperson for the paper, clearly not in the mood for a 2025 reboot of Suits, released a statement via Variety that can only be described as βprofessionally savage.β
βThe role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,β the spokesperson said, possibly while polishing their Pulitzer. βOur story was meticulously and responsibly reported,β they continued, casually dropping the word βmeticulouslyβ like itβs the intellectual version of a mic drop. And for those keeping score, they also reminded everyone that their receipts include thousands of pages of texts and emails, all quoted with the precision of a reality TV reunion host.
Scene 3: The Plot Thickens
The spokesperson wasnβt done. Oh no. They doubled down, pointing out that neither Baldoni, his studio, nor anyone else named in the article had flagged even a single error in the reporting. Translation? βIf youβve got something to say, say it. Otherwise, weβre going back to work.β To wrap it up, they declared their intention to βvigorously defend against the lawsuit,β which sounds like code for, βSee you in court, and donβt forget your lawyerβs number.β
Scene 4: Blake Enters the Chat
Because this saga wasnβt dramatic enough, Blake Lively, always the queen of well-timed entrances, decided to formally file her own lawsuit against Baldoni on the same day he sued the Times. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, weβre now in the lawsuit-ception phase of this mess. Is this an actual legal battle or a live-action adaptation of The Real Litigants of Hollywood?
The Credits Roll⦠For Now
As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: This legal showdown is shaping up to be the Hollywood crossover event of the year. Will Baldoniβs $250 million lawsuit win him the role of courtroom victor, or will the Times remind him why you donβt mess with the press? Stay tunedβthis story is far from over, and weβre all just here for the popcorn.