American actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni has filed a lawsuit against the New York Times demanding $250 million in damages. He has filed this lawsuit in protest against an article published by the newspaper, which supported the sexual harassment allegations made by Baldoni's It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. Baldoni has described the article as completely one-sided.
Baldoni has claimed that the newspaper 'selectively' edited and misrepresented the facts and deliberately misled him. It is alleged that the newspaper published Blake Lively's version in which she has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment.
Variety reported on Tuesday that Baldoni has filed a $250 million lawsuit against the NYT in Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiffs in the suit include publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, as well as It Ends With Us producers Jamie Heath and Steve Sarowitz, who are suing the newspaper for defamation and privacy violations. The dispute stems from a December 21 article titled 'We Can't Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.
The New York Times has said it will defend itself and fight the lawsuit. A New York Times spokesperson told Variety that the role of an independent news organization is to pursue the facts wherever they lead. We have reported carefully and responsibly. This was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including text messages and emails that we have used in the article. He further said that we plan to defend vigorously against the lawsuit.
