December 25, 2024: The legal troubles surrounding actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni have escalated significantly, with a breach of contract lawsuit now filed by his former publicist, Steph Jones. This lawsuit, which was lodged in New York State court, comes on the heels of serious allegations made by Baldoni’s It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively, who has accused Baldoni of sexual misconduct.
The suit highlights a breach of contract between Baldoni and Jones’ PR firm, Jonesworks, with Baldoni having signed a one-year deal at $25,000 per month. However, in August, shortly after the release of It Ends With Us, Baldoni reportedly severed ties with Jonesworks and moved his PR needs to a new firm founded by his former publicist, Jennifer Abel. The lawsuit filed by Jones claims that Baldoni, Abel, and another publicist, Melissa Nathan, engaged in a coordinated effort to damage Jones’ professional reputation after Baldoni’s departure.
Jones accuses Baldoni’s new PR team of engaging in a smear campaign against Blake Lively, allegedly in retaliation for Lively’s sexual harassment allegations. Lively’s legal team has reportedly obtained text messages that show communications between Abel, Nathan, and Baldoni, which suggest a deliberate attempt to “bury” Lively’s claims in order to avoid a public scandal. Lively’s legal filing, made to the California Civil Rights Department, describes how Baldoni and his team used “social manipulation” to ruin her reputation.
Baldoni has vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “shameful” and “categorically false.” He has publicly rejected any wrongdoing, both by himself and by his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
In addition to the accusations of misconduct, the lawsuit filed by Jones also highlights allegations of sabotage within the public relations industry. Jones claims that Abel, who was planning to leave Jonesworks, conspired with Nathan to undermine the firm and steal clients, which she argues caused significant damage to her business. The lawsuit contends that this scheme was intended to tarnish Jones’ reputation and harm the operations of Jonesworks.
As the legal battle progresses, it is likely to attract further scrutiny, with the accusations against Baldoni and the internal disputes among the involved publicists adding layers of complexity to the case. The combination of serious sexual harassment allegations and a high-profile breach of contract lawsuit makes this a particularly volatile situation in the entertainment industry.
