Justin Baldoni Sues The New York Times for Libel, Seeking $250 Million; Blake Lively Sues Baldoni, Alleging Harassment and Smear Campaign

(Left) Actor/filmmaker Justin Baldoni speaks onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at IAC Building in New York on Dec. 9, 2024. (Right) Blake Lively attends the "It Ends With Us" photocall at IET Building: Savoy Place in London on Aug. 8, 2024. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership; Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

Actress Blake Lively sued “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni and several others tied to the romantic drama on Tuesday, alleging harassment and a coordinated campaign to attack her reputation for coming forward about her treatment on the set.

The federal lawsuit was filed in New York just hours after Baldoni and many of the other defendants in Lively’s suit sued The New York Times for libel for its story on her allegations, saying the newspaper and the star were the ones conducting a coordinated smear campaign.