“Blake Lively Hit with Defamation Lawsuit by Justin Baldoni’s PR Firm”

Blake Lively Faces Defamation Lawsuit Amid Legal Dispute

Blake Lively is facing a new lawsuit amid the ongoing legal battle involving Justin Baldoni. A crisis mitigation firm, Street Relations Inc., and its representative, Jed Wallace, filed a defamation suit against the actress in Texas Federal Court on Tuesday.

Lively had previously named Wallace and his company in her California Civil Rights Department complaint in December. Her lawyers claimed that Wallace was subcontracted by Baldoni’s crisis PR firm and allegedly orchestrated a digital campaign to manipulate public perception. They asserted that content was created, promoted, and fed to reporters, leading to viral dissemination with the intent to influence public opinion.

However, Wallace’s new lawsuit refutes these claims, stating that Lively’s complaint falsely accused him and his firm of illegal actions under state and federal law. His legal team contends that the allegations are false, defamatory, and made with negligence or actual malice, resulting in millions of dollars in reputational harm, emotional distress, and business losses.

According to legal filings, Wallace and Street Relations are seeking at least $7 million in damages and a declaratory judgment clearing them of any wrongdoing in connection to the case. This lawsuit follows Lively’s recent attempt to depose Wallace, a petition she withdrew the same day his suit was filed.

Lively’s legal team responded with a statement to multiple outlets, calling the lawsuit an act of retaliation against her complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. They emphasized that such legal actions aim to silence those speaking out against harassment and misconduct.

Meanwhile, Wallace’s attorney stated that his client, a private individual, has never met or spoken with Lively. He denied any involvement in a smear campaign against her and asserted that the lawsuit was a necessary step to protect Wallace’s reputation and livelihood after being named in multiple legal filings.

This latest lawsuit is part of the broader legal dispute involving Lively, Baldoni, and other parties. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, which he denies. In response, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband, citing civil extortion and defamation, allegations they also deny. The legal battle continues to unfold with significant ramifications for all involved.