During their nuptials, the Jane The Virgin star expressed regret for “anything I’ve ever said or done that has hurt you” also apologizing for his “faults, shortcomings, insecurities and my ego.”
Baldoni, 40, and the studio behind the romantic drama It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, are accused of a “multi-tiered plan” to tarnish Blake Lively’s reputation following a meeting addressing allegations of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” against Baldoni and a film producer.
Baldoni vehemently denies these claims. In the pre-lawsuit damages complaint, Baldoni, his publicists, and Wayfarer Studios are named as defendants.
It Ends With Us tells the story of a woman seeking a healthy, loving relationship, with Lively, 37, portraying lead character Lily Bloom and Baldoni playing her love interest Ryle Kincaid.
The couple wed in July 2013 in Corona, California, with MailOnline reporting that Baldoni pledged to “cherish, listen to you, honor you and respect” his wife during their Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed ceremony.
Emily allegedly replied, vowing to “stand tall by your side. Feeling blessed to have a man who speaks for those who cannot or do not have the strength to. And a man who will go without sleep to make sure someone’s story is told.”
Following the news of Lively’s lawsuit, author Colleen Hoover expressed her support for the actress on Instagram, writing: “@blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met.”
“Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
Hoover then shared a link to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine, which outlines the allegations, including claims that Baldoni worked with a crisis communications specialist to launch a “sophisticated, coordinated, and well-financed retaliation plan” that created “manufactured content” to sway public opinion, allegedly with the “approval” of the studio.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement to the newspaper.
Bryan Freedman, a lawyer representing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its representatives, countered the allegations as “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
Freedman explained that the studio “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film” and clarified: “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.”
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