Following differences in how the film—based on the Colleen Hoover novel about a woman surviving domestic violence—should be marketed, the suit states, Baldoni took part in a “social manipulation” campaign to “destroy” Lively’s reputation, negatively impacting her business and causing her family “severe emotional distress.”
However, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman, has fired back at Lively’s complaint, claiming it’s an attempt to “fix her negative reputation” and noting it’s “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”
In a statement to The New York Times, Freedman also alleged that, behind the scenes, Lively was “threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release.”
In her own statement to the newspaper, Lively said, “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.”
She also denied that she or any of her representatives planted or spread negative information about Baldoni, The New York Times said.
E! News has reached out to Lively and Baldoni’s teams for comment and has not heard back.
