Blake Lively’s Publicist Accuses Justin Baldoni of Sexual Harassment and Victim-Blaming in Legal Battle

Hollywood is facing another high-profile legal dispute as Blake Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, 

has accused actor-director Justin Baldoni of sexually harassing multiple employees and engaging in victim-blaming in his efforts to dismiss allegations against him. 

These claims surfaced in a motion filed by Sloane on Thursday, as part of Baldoni’s ongoing $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit.

Sloane, a respected figure in the entertainment industry and the founder of Vision PR, 

has asserted that Baldoni’s legal team dragged her into the case as a diversion tactic to shift focus away from his alleged misconduct. 

Her filing further criticizes Baldoni’s reputation as a vocal feminist advocate, calling it “sheer hypocrisy” in light of his alleged behavior toward women on the set of It Ends With Us.

Leslie Sloane: ‘Baldoni’s Legal Team Is Using Me as a Scapegoat’

According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Sloane is seeking to be dismissed as a co-defendant in Baldoni’s lawsuit, arguing that her inclusion is nothing more than an attempt to create “smoke and mirrors” to obscure the real issue—his alleged sexual harassment and retaliation against women.

Her legal team has taken a firm stance, stating:

“Baldoni’s lawsuit is designed to discredit and blame his victims while punishing those who dare to speak out.”

While the motion does not name all of Baldoni’s alleged victims, it does explicitly support the claims made by Blake Lively, who has also accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior.

Blake Lively Alleges She Was Not the Only Victim

Lively, 37, has been vocal about her experiences working with Baldoni. In her recent amended legal complaint, she alleged that she wasn’t the only woman who suffered harassment on set and that multiple individuals were willing to testify about his misconduct. However, as of now, no other co-stars or crew members have publicly come forward with similar accusations.

Sloane’s filing bolsters Lively’s claims, emphasizing that Baldoni’s legal approach appears to rest on the idea that:

“Lively was too ambitious, too outspoken, and should have tolerated Baldoni’s bizarre and abusive practices without complaint.”

The motion further argues that Baldoni’s lawsuit misrepresents Lively’s experiences and attempts to shift blame onto her rather than addressing the allegations head-on.

Sloane Rejects Accusations of a ‘Smear Campaign’

Baldoni’s lawsuit has also accused Sloane and her PR firm, Vision PR, of launching a coordinated attack against him by planting false stories in the media. However, in her latest filing, Sloane vehemently denies these allegations, stating that she never engaged in any malicious efforts to ruin Baldoni’s reputation.

Instead, she argues that Baldoni’s own publicity team attempted to control the narrative by disparaging Lively in the press. Sloane’s legal team even referenced text messages allegedly sent by Baldoni’s crisis manager, in which the PR professional reportedly threatened to “bury” people and “destroy” Lively’s life.

Further rejecting the defamation claim, Sloane’s attorneys stated:

“Other than one New York Times article, which they cannot plausibly connect to Ms. Sloane or her company, the plaintiffs fail to identify a single ‘malicious story’ that is part of this so-called smear campaign.”

Instead, Sloane contends that the only media engagement she had regarding the allegations was in response to a press inquiry about a story that Baldoni’s team seemingly planted themselves.

Baldoni’s Team Responds to the Allegations

Baldoni, 41, has consistently denied all accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, both toward Lively and any other alleged victims. His legal team has also denied orchestrating a media campaign against Lively, dismissing the claims as false.

In response to Sloane’s latest filing, Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a statement:

“There were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize, which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”

Despite these denials, the mounting legal battle continues to place Baldoni under intense scrutiny, with Sloane and Lively both standing firm in their allegations.

What’s Next in This Hollywood Legal Battle?

As the case unfolds, the legal drama between Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Leslie Sloane is far from over. With Sloane seeking dismissal from the lawsuit and reinforcing allegations of sexual misconduct and retaliation, the court will ultimately decide whether her claims hold weight.

Meanwhile, Baldoni’s legal team remains focused on proving defamation and extortion, arguing that the accusations against him are part of a coordinated attack on his character and career.

With both sides presenting strong arguments, this Hollywood legal battle is likely to escalate further, drawing widespread attention in the entertainment industry and beyond.

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