Hollywood Publicist Sues Justin Baldoni Amid Smear Campaign allegations

A legal battle is brewing in Hollywood,pitting actor Justin Baldoni against ⁢his former publicist,Steph Jones,owner of Jonesworks. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges⁣ breach of contract and involvement in a ‍smear campaign targeting Blake Lively, Baldoni’s co-star in “It Ends With Us.”

Jones claims‍ Baldoni terminated their $25,000-a-month contract prematurely in ‌August,several ‍months before its scheduled end. This followed the departure of Jennifer Abel, a ⁢Jonesworks publicist, too⁢ establish her own firm.The lawsuit also names⁢ Abel ‍and publicist Melissa Nathan as defendants, accusing⁤ them of orchestrating a negative publicity campaign ⁣against Lively.

The lawsuit states,‍ “To this day, Abel and Nathan continue to point the finger falsely at Jones now that their own misconduct is‌ coming to light, and to defame⁣ and attack Jones ‌in the industry.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Lively​ filed a ​complaint with the California ⁢civil Rights department on​ Saturday, accusing Baldoni and his⁤ publicists of ⁤retaliatory ‌actions following her⁤ allegations of on-set sexual⁤ harassment in ‌2023. The⁤ complaint details a series of sexually inappropriate​ comments⁤ and behaviors allegedly committed ⁢by Baldoni. Lively’s legal team reportedly raised these concerns before ⁢filming resumed earlier this year after a⁤ production halt due to the Hollywood strikes.

Tensions between Baldoni⁢ and Lively reportedly⁣ surfaced during last summer’s promotional tour for the film.The complaint includes text messages obtained by Lively’s attorneys via ‍a‌ pre-litigation subpoena to ⁤Jones, revealing⁤ a plan within Baldoni’s publicity team to “bury” ‍Lively. Baldoni allegedly feared public ⁣accusations of sexual misconduct from Lively or her⁤ representatives.

Attorney Bryan Freedman,representing ‌Abel,Nathan,and Baldoni,threatened legal action against Jones on Monday for providing‌ the contents of Abel’s phone ⁤to Lively’s legal⁣ team. Freedman,Abel,and​ Nathan have not​ yet responded to requests for comment regarding Jones’ lawsuit.

This unfolding saga ‌highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of high-profile Hollywood collaborations and the intense scrutiny surrounding allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. the legal​ battles ahead promise to reveal further ⁢details of this intricate and explosive situation.

Former Employee Accused of Orchestrating Smear Campaign Against New York Firm

A New York state court is hearing a lawsuit alleging a former employee and a business associate engaged ​in a coordinated effort to damage ​the reputation and steal clients from Jonesworks, a New York-based company. The‍ plaintiff, Jonesworks, claims⁢ the defendants ​orchestrated a smear campaign, including‍ planting ​negative stories in the press.

The lawsuit centers around the actions of a former Jonesworks⁤ employee, Abel, and a business⁤ associate, nathan. ‌According to the ​complaint, Abel’s company-issued ⁢phone, “forensically preserved” by Jonesworks after Abel’s‍ termination, revealed the extent of the alleged ​conspiracy. ‌ “Abel and Nathan’s covert ​takedown and smear campaigns‍ were revealed in black and white on Abel’s company-issued phone following‍ her termination, which Jonesworks forensically ‌preserved and examined ‌in⁤ detail after receiving a ‍subpoena for ⁢the ⁤phone’s⁣ contents,” ‍the suit states. “Jones discovered ‍the breadth and intensity of Abel and Nathan’s duplicity from these records, ​including that Abel was actively encouraging other Jonesworks clients and employees to‌ leave Jonesworks while Abel was still employed there.”

The lawsuit alleges that Abel, allegedly encouraged by Nathan, spent⁢ months plotting her departure⁢ from Jonesworks, aiming to poach clients⁣ and tarnish the company’s reputation. Nathan’s alleged motivation stemmed from gaining greater access to those clients once Abel left.​ “This⁢ scheme ultimately inflicted serious damage on Jones and Jonesworks,” the lawsuit claims.

The alleged campaign included planting negative stories ⁤about Jonesworks in the media, including an article in Business Insider published last summer. ​ The lawsuit details‌ a ⁤range of alleged offenses, including breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and defamation.

The case highlights the potential legal ramifications of ⁣employee misconduct and the importance of protecting ‌business interests from internal threats. ⁣ The outcome of this lawsuit​ could set‌ a ​precedent for⁣ similar cases involving alleged smear campaigns and client theft within the business world.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available. Stay tuned to world-today-news.com for the latest updates.