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. That’s right—Baldoni’s coming for the Gray Lady like she owes him rent.
Scene 1: The Spark That Lit the Fuse
It all started when Blake Lively, Baldoni’s It Ends With Us co-star, filed a legal complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and kicking off what she called a “smear campaign.” Now, in true Hollywood fashion, Baldoni wasn’t about to let this plot twist go unchallenged. Just a week later—because no one rushes a dramatic entrance—he hit back with his own lawsuit, claiming the Times went full creative-writing mode on his emails and texts. According to him, they “cherry-picked” 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, “Oh, you thought?” 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 “professionally savage.”
“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” the spokesperson said, possibly while polishing their Pulitzer. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported,” they continued, casually dropping the word “meticulously” like it’s 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 wasn’t 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? “If you’ve got something to say, say it. Otherwise, we’re going back to work.” To wrap it up, they declared their intention to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit,” which sounds like code for, “See you in court, and don’t forget your lawyer’s number.”
Scene 4: Blake Enters the Chat
Because this saga wasn’t 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, we’re 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 Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit win him the role of courtroom victor, or will the Times remind him why you don’t mess with the press? Stay tuned—this story is far from over, and we’re all just here for the popcorn.
