Justin Baldoni vs Blake Lively: Ex-Publicist Says Smear Allegations Are ‘A Lie Built on a Subpoena’

Amid a swirling media storm, Jones claims she followed legal orders—not sabotage—in feud involving Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Hollywood power players

Washington [US], April 11: The legal firestorm surrounding the hit film It Ends With Us has taken another dramatic turn. Stephanie Jones, former publicist to actor-director Justin Baldoni, has formally denied accusations that she leaked confidential materials to undermine Blake Lively, saying in court filings that her disclosures were made in response to a lawful subpoena, not as part of a smear campaign.

The dispute stems from the behind-the-scenes chaos of the film’s production and promotional campaign, which has since unraveled into multiple legal showdowns involving stars Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, and prominent PR professionals.

In twin filings submitted Thursday night in the U.S. District Court in New York, Jones’s legal team responded to allegations from Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios and former colleague Jennifer Abel, calling their claims a “publicity-seeking leak narrative.”

“First, there was no leak,” the filing states. “Information was produced pursuant to a subpoena. Wayfarer willfully avoids this reality.”

The October 2023 subpoena, viewed by Deadline, directed Jones to turn over all relevant communications—including emails and texts—that later surfaced in a New York Times exposé about the production’s internal fallout.

Jones is currently suing Baldoni, Wayfarer, and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel for breach of contract, alleging they attempted to pin the blame for the ongoing drama on her. The defendants have since countersued, accusing Jones of leaking sensitive material and sabotaging Lively’s image.

Jones’s attorneys argue that Abel and Nathan were engaged in their own campaign to discredit Jones, citing internal text messages where the pair allegedly discussed “making good money and being happy” after attempting to poach Jonesworks’ clients and sully her reputation.

“Abel’s counterclaims are nothing but a master-class in dissembling and diversion,” the filing reads. “She has no real response for her duplicitous campaign to ruin Jones’s reputation.”

The documents also push back against claims made by Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman, who has also clashed publicly with Ryan Reynolds. Jones’s legal team described Freedman’s approach as a calculated distraction to deflect from serious contractual breaches by Wayfarer and its executives.

“Jones’ lawsuit isn’t about movie drama,” her lawyers wrote. “It’s about broken contracts, unpaid fees, and unethical conduct by former partners and clients.”

Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team filed a rebuttal to Baldoni’s latest amended complaint, which alleges that she and Reynolds orchestrated a narrative claiming she was harassed during the film’s production. The new reply states that Baldoni’s case lacks any “actionable statements” by Lively, dismissing his argument that she is liable for her husband’s remarks.

“In 2025, wives are not responsible for their husband’s words,” the filing says. “It is incredible that Baldoni, a person who calls himself a feminist, would take such a position.”

As the saga heads toward a potential 2026 court trial, the combination of legal accusations, A-list celebrity involvement, and the film’s ironic focus on domestic abuse continues to captivate Hollywood and beyond.