Blake Lively is facing yet another legal challenge, this time from a crisis management firm that claims she defamed them in her ongoing dispute with co-star Justin Baldoni.
The 37-year-old It Ends With Us actress has been sued by Street Relations, a firm that allegedly played a role in the legal battle between Blake and Justin.
Jed Wallace of Street Relations filed a complaint in a Texas federal court on February 4, accusing Blake of defamation for tying him to the lawsuits between her and Justin. The lawsuit claims Blake wrongfully alleged that Jed created fake social media content to attack her and defend Justin. Now, he’s seeking at least $7 million in damages, along with a court order clearing him of any harassment or retaliation claims against Blake.
Blake had initially filed a petition in January in a Texas state court seeking to depose Jed. She accused him of orchestrating an online smear campaign that appeared authentic, ultimately influencing public perception in Justin’s favor. According to her petition, Justin’s PR team allegedly used manufactured content to fuel negative narratives, making it seem as though public sentiment was naturally turning against her.
Her legal team, led by Michael Gottlieb, issued a strong response to the new lawsuit.
“Another day, another state, another nine-figure lawsuit seeking to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ for speaking out against sexual harassment and retaliation,” they stated via Just Jared.
“This is not just a publicity stunt—it is transparent retaliation in response to allegations contained within a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint that Ms. Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department. While this lawsuit will be dismissed, we are pleased that Mr. Wallace has finally emerged from the shadows, and that he too will be held accountable in federal court.”
Jed’s lawsuit argues that Blake wrongfully implicated him in the petition and her California Civil Rights Department complaint, despite having no evidence against him.
“As Lively later admitted, she knew of no facts to support the allegations,” said Jed’s lawyer, Charles Babcock, in the complaint.
“Neither Wallace nor Street had anything to do with the alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to investigate, or aiding and abetting the alleged harassment or alleged retaliation. Neither could they have breached a contract with Lively because no such contract exists.”
The legal dispute between Blake and Justin has already drawn significant attention, and this latest lawsuit only adds more fuel to the fire. While Blake’s team is confident this case will be dismissed, the unfolding courtroom drama continues to make headlines. For more details, check out THR.com.
