Justin Baldoni argued Blake Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane’s should not be removed from lawsuit because she made him the ‘scapegoat’ just for the actress’ ‘woes.’
The It Ends With Us director’s lawyers submitted legal paperwork to contest Sloane’s request for her and her firm, Vision PR, to be dismissed from the contentious legal battle.
The latest development occurred on Thursday, March 6, the same day the federal judge in the case between the former co-stars had referred to their legal battle as a ‘feud between PR firms,’ per Deadline.
The following day, Lively attended the SXSW premiere of her new movie, Another Simple Favor, dodging any discussion of the matter — even during awkward moments with her co-star Anna Kendrick or when a Baldoni supporter started protesting beside the red carpet.
He claimed Lively’s publicist and her firm ‘played an active and integral role in a conspiracy to inflict harm’ against Baldoni, his production company and his PR team of Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
Sloane’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, previously filed a motion to dismiss in New York federal court on February 20, asking to be taken out of Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios’ countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist.
Justin Baldoni argued Blake Lively ‘s publicist Leslie Sloane’s should not be removed from lawsuit because she made him the ‘scapegoat’ just for the actress’ ‘woes’; pictured August 2024 on Today
He claimed Lively’s publicist and her firm ‘played an active and integral role in a conspiracy to inflict harm’ against Baldoni, his production company and his PR team of Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel
In the memorandum of opposition from Baldoni’s side, he claimed that Sloane ‘conspired’ with Lively, her husband Reynolds and The New York Times to ‘make scapegoats of the Wayfarer Parties for Lively’s woes.’
Baldoni’s side dramatically alleges that it was all in ‘in a desperate effort to salvage Lively’s reputation and escape her wrath.’
Baldoni claimed Sloane and her PR firm ‘worked for months to drop breadcrumbs and hints of sinister allegations to the public while secretly feeding falsehoods to any reporter who would listen.’
His side also named the New York Times reporter who penned the December 21 article on Lively’s sexual harassment and smear campaign complaint.
Baldoni and his team went on to sue the news outlet for $250 million on New Year’s Eve.
‘As a direct result of [their] actions, Baldoni claimed that he and those on his team have been ‘damaged beyond measure.’
‘Their reputations are destroyed, their businesses lie in tatters, and their own film was taken from them,’ the legal document read.
This is the latest development in the litigation saga after Baldoni — as well as Wayfarer, CEO Jamey Heath, Sarowitz and his publicists Nathan and Abel — sued Lively along with Reynolds, Sloane and Vision PR for defamation and extortion in a $400 million countersuit.
The It Ends With Us director’s lawyers submitted legal paperwork to contest Sloane’s request for her and her firm, Vision PR, to be dismissed from the contentious legal battle; pictured alongside Britney Spears in November 2003
In the memorandum of opposition from Baldoni’s side, he claimed that Sloane ‘conspired’ with Lively, her husband Reynolds and The New York Times to ‘make scapegoats of the Wayfarer Parties for Lively’s woes’; pictured August 2024 in New York City
Baldoni’s side dramatically alleges that it was all in ‘in a desperate effort to salvage Lively’s reputation and escape her wrath’; pictured August 2024 in New York City
In early February, Baldoni’s side added the New York Times to the suit after filing an amended complaint.
Not long after, Sloane filed a motion to dismiss herself and her PR team.
According to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Sloane’s attorney insisted Sloane was ‘dragged’ into the nasty legal battle as a ‘smoke and mirrors exercise to distract from their own sexual harassment and their own systematic retaliation.’
The filing also alleges that there is no ‘basis’ for accusing Sloane of launching a ‘smear campaign’ against Baldoni or planting ‘malicious stories’ about him.
Sloane’s attorneys also pointed out that Baldoni’s lawyers don’t ‘identify where or how the alleged extortion occurred’ or how she ‘received anything of value because of that extortion.’
On February 28, the New York Times also filed to be taken off the case.
This is the latest development in the litigation saga after Baldoni — as well as Wayfarer, CEO Jamey Heath, Sarowitz and his publicists Nathan and Abel — sued Lively along with Reynolds, Sloane and Vision PR for defamation and extortion in a $400 million countersuit; pictured in 2024 It Ends With Us movie still
Lively first filed a lawsuit against Baldoni on December 31, 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation, having since amended with additional claims from other women of Baldoni’s alleged misconduct; pictured in 2024 It Ends With Us movie still
There is currently no date on the court calendar for either Sloane or the New York Times’ motions to exit the case, per Deadline.
Lively first filed a lawsuit against Baldoni on December 31, 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation, having since amended with additional claims from other women of Baldoni’s alleged misconduct.
On Thursday, neither Baldoni nor Lively and not anyone from their respective inner circles attended the virtual hearing.
The brutal melee will be heading to trial on March 29, 2026.
