December 27, 2024 • 20 mins
Blake Lively filed a complaint alleging that Justin Baldoni, the director of It Ends With Us, engaged in sexual harassment and retaliated against her for speaking up. This resulted in a widespread outpouring of support for Lively from colleagues, including her brother-in-law and other actors, as well as public figures. Baldoni has faced significant consequences, including losing his agency representation, a podcast co-host, and an award, and being sued for defamation. Lively's complaint details numerous instances of allegedly inappropriate behavior by Baldoni on set.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, buckle up, everybody, because today we are diving
(00:04):
headfirst into a Hollywood hurricane.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ooh, I like that, a Hollywood hurricane.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yeah. We are talking about the It Ends with Us
movie and all the dramas, so much drama surrounding this
movie behind the scenes, and it all centers around Blake
Lively and Justin Buldoni, you know, stars of the film.
And if you don't know, the movie is based on
a romance novel, popular book, yeah, very popular book fans
by Colleen Hoover.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yes, but here's the thing, Oh yeah, go on.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
This is way more than just like you know, your
usual celebrity feud. It is we're talking serious.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Allegations, Oh, very serious.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Allegations of harassment. There might be a pr war being waged.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Definitely seems that way.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And you know, we get to peek behind the curtain
a little bit and see how these Hollywood narratives are.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Constructed, how the sausage is made exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So let's just jump right in. We've got Blake Lively,
who you know, has a reputation for being pretty paul yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Very put together. She is accusing her director and co
star in the film, Justin Buldoni of some pretty serious
misconduct that happened on set, right.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
And it is interesting, isn't it, because you know, Justin
Baldoni has this very carefully cultivated image as this sensitive guy,
you know, this empathetic guy. And then Lively's legal complaint
comes out and she's making these claims that he was
improvising these kissing scenes, aw and adding in these intimate
(01:34):
scenes without her consent and making all these inappropriate comments
even I'm showing her explicit material that's.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Not okay, no, yeah, yeah, it is. It's really unsettling,
Like the contrast between you know, his public persona and
these allegations, it's pretty stark. And then, to make matters worse,
Lively also claims that he repeatedly entered her trailer huh
without her permission.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Right, and even even when she was breastfeeding, oh my gosh,
and told her that he could communicate with her deceased father.
That is, how do you even respond to that?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Like, where where do you begin with that?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I know, I know, and it's important to note here, right, Yeah,
these are very serious accusations, and Lively actually filed an.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
HR complaint during filming.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
During the filming of the movie.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So this isn't something that just came up after the.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Movie was released, right, like trying to get some extra
press for the movie. You know, it suggests there's actually
a pattern of behavior here, right.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
It adds weight to what she's saying. Absolutely, it wasn't
just this, you know, one off disagreement or misinterpretation exactly
on set. There's a history here exactly. So naturally, Baldoni's
side has responded.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Of course, you know, it's got to say something, of course, right,
So his lawyer has issued a statement, okay, and they
are denying everything, calling all of Lively's accusations false, outrageous,
and intentionally salacious.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
They're basically saying that she's making all of this up.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Okay, So we've got this right, like he said, she said,
going on with the harassment, right, But then it gets
even more complicated. Oh yeah, with this whole smear campaign accusation.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh yeah, what.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Is going on there?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Right? So Lively is alleging that after she filed that
HR complaint, that Baldoni and his team went on the
offensive and they basically launched a coordinated effort to damage
her reputation. So this alleged smear campaign was meant to
really paint her in a negative light and undermine her credibility.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So like a classic Hollywood revenge plot, right, you.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Could say that, Okay, the complaint actually names specific people,
So it names these publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan okay,
And it is alleging that they were planting these negative
stories about Lively, oh wow, and trying to really manipulate
public opinion against her.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Is there any evidence to support these claims that there's
this pr war going on?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So the complaint includes alleged text messages, okay, from Baldoni's
publicist to a studio publicist, and the text messages supposedly
the publicist is talking about wanting to bury Lively.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Wow, very Lively. That's pretty aggressive, it is, it is.
It really makes you think about how much power these
publicists have behind the scenes in Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Right, Like, how much influence do they have?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Absolutely, they have a lot of influence. They're the ones
who are shaping the narratives, right, They're controlling the flow
of information to the media. So this whole situation with
Lively and Baldoni, it's really shining a light on the
sort of hidden machinery of Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It makes you wonder, like, how much of what we
see in the news, in celebrity news, how much of
that is real and how much of it is just
carefully constructed pr spin.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Right, you know, exactly? And this is where it gets
really interesting. Okay, because Baldoni's form publicist, her name is
Stephanie Jones, she has entered the fray.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Oh no, and is now suing Baldoni.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Wait, so Baldoni's own former publicist is suing him, Yes, as.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well as Abel and Nathan, those other two publicists we
were just talking about for Breacher contract.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So Jones is claiming that she knew nothing about this
smear campaign against Lively, and she is accusing Abel and
Nathan of basically going rogue and acting independence, oh against
her wishes.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Okay. So now we've got Lively accusing Baldoni, Baldoni denying everything,
and his former publicist suing everybody.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Pretty much sums it up.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Is your head spinning yet mine is a little bit?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
But it gets even more twisted. Oh no, So there
are rumors out there that Jones herself, who might have
been involved in the smear campaign might be the one
who provided Lively's team with those incriminating text messages.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Wait, so the person who may have been orchestrating the
smear campaign is now the one who potentially helped expose it.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
It's a real head scratcher, it is, isn't it? And
it really shows you how ruthless this industry can be
and how complex all these relationships are.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
It's not just about the stars themselves, It's about this
whole network of publicists, agents and studios.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Right, everybody's vying for control. Yes, it really makes you
question everything you read about.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Celebrities, everything you see, everything you hear, like.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
What's real and what's just manufactured?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Exactly? And this whole case is just this big reminder
that the public narrative is very often just the tip
of the iceberg. Yeah, there's so much going on beneath
the surface, all this strategy and manipulation. It's hard to
know what's really going on.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Sometimes it really makes you wonder, like who else in
Hollywood might be caught up in all this.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Oh, I'm sure there's more to uncover. We'll get to
that a little bit later, Okay, but first, let's talk
about the public reaction. To all of this, okay, because
it's been very interesting to see who has come out
in support Lively, and some of it has been pretty surprising.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, coming from some unexpected corners.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah. Yeah, And it really just makes you realize how
much weight those public pronouncements carry when you have someone
like Jenny Slaate coming forward to support Lively. You know,
she actually co starred in the film as Baldoni's character's sister.
That carries a lot of weight in Hollywood because people
listen to what she has to say.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And it's interesting right because her statement, it wasn't just
like a casual tweet. You know, she released an actual
statement calling Lively a loyal friend and a trusted source
of emotional support. She even praised Lively for her bravery
and speaking out.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That's huge.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It is, especially in an industry where speaking out can
be career suicide pretty much. So that was a really
strong show of solidarity from Jenny.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Slat Yeah for sure. And you know, we also can't
forget it about Colleen Hoover, the author of the book.
The author of the book, She also took to social
media to express her support. Yeah, she's real, Lively. She did,
and even commended Lively's character, right, and thank her for
her contributions to the film.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, which I thought was really interesting considering, you know,
the book itself has actually sparked a lot of debate
about its depiction of domestic abuse. Right, So I thought
it was really interesting that she still came out and
supported Lively.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah. It definitely adds another layer of complexity to the
whole situation, it really does. And then there's Lively's brother
in law, oh Dark Johnson, right, who you might remember, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
You probably recognize him from the high.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
School musical films.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
He really didn't hold back.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
He did not.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I mean, calling Baldoni a fraud on social media that's
pretty bold.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It is a pretty bold move, especially you know, in
this industry where everybody's kind of worried about what other
people think and their reputations.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
It was definitely a strong statement, it was. And he
even accused Baldoni of hiding behind this persona of being
you know, like a hero and a good guy.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Is this perfect guy?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, like the perfect guy, and accused him of manipulating
people with like trendy catchphrases and buzzwords.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Oh yeah, that's pretty harsh, it is.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah. He even went as far as to encourage people
to rewatch Baldoni's videos with a more critical.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Eye, with a more discerning eye.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, like implying that there's more to the story that
meets the eye. Yeah. And Johnson's comments they really get
to the heart of this, you know, this bigger conversation
that we're having about image versus reality in Hollywood, how
much of what we see is genuine and authentic versus
how much of it is just carefully constructed by these publicists.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
These PR teams and PR teams.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty fascinating, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
It's fascinating and a little bit terrifying. Yeah, at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, It's like, this whole situation is a case study
in the power of public perception and how quickly that
can all change depending on who's controlling the narrative. Exactly,
And it raises some interesting questions about what happens when
that control, that control over the narrative is used to
(10:21):
silence victims or to protect abusers.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
To protect powerful people who are doing bad things.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah, exactly. Think about it. If these allegations against Baldoni
are true, and his team is really trying to discredit
Lively that could prevent other potential victims from coming forward.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
And it's a really chilling thought. It is because so
much of this comes down to who you believe. And
in Hollywood, where image is everything, yeah, it's very.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Easy for those with power and resources to kind of
manipulate the narrative in their.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Face, to control the story.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely, And this whole situation with Baldoni's former publicist, Stephanie Jones,
really highlights how cutthroat is this world.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Is it is.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
You know, she's suing Baldoni for breach of contract, but
she's also suing Abel and Nathan, the publicist that Lively
is accusing of orchestrating the smear campaign.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Yeah, so everybody is suing everybody.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
It's like this game of chess, it is, where everybody
is making these strategic moves, Yeah, to protect themselves absolutely.
But you know, here's the thing that really gets me.
There are rumors that Jones, who may have been involved
in this smear campaign herself, might be the one who
leaks those incriminating text messages to Lively's team.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, I mean what it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Yeah, So the person who may have been orchestrating this
whole smear campaign is now the one who potentially helped
expose it.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Plot twist.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
It is right, and it really makes you wonder about
her motivations, Like what's going on there?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Like is this a play for power?
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Is she trying to redeem herself or is it something else?
Entirely we just don't know. Yeah, but whatever her reasons are,
it's very clear that publicists like Jones play a significant
role in shaping the stories that we hear about celebrities.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
They're the ones who are controlling the access to information.
They're spinning narratives, and they can make or break careers.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, it's scary. It is how much power they have.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And it brings us back to that question of how
much control they really have right over public perception. Do
you remember when we were talking about Duayne the Rock Johnson, Yes, earlier.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And Stephanie Jones's worked with him. Yeah, I'm actually really
curious to hear more about that, Okay, because you know
the Rock, he has this squeaky clean.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Image, Yeah, very family friendly.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Very family friendly. Was that all thanks to a savvy publicist?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Well, it's more nuanced than that. But while Jones was
representing Johnson, he was very well known for his professionalism
and he pretty much avoided all negative.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Press, So nothing negative ever came out about.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Him pretty much.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But then after they parted ways, some less than flattering
stories started to surface about the Rock.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Oh really, like what kind of stories?
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, there were reports about him being difficult on set,
showing up late, and even urinating in bottles.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
That's so unlike image.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, and whether those stories are true or exaggerated is debatable,
but the timing of their release right after his split
with Jones, it definitely raises some questions.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Are you suggesting, Well, I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Just saying that it's possible that Jones was suppressing.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Those stories while she was representing him.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
She was representing him, right, Okay, and then maybe she
released them after they parted ways. Kind of crazy if
you think about it, like.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
She's weaponizing information.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, in a way.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
It's a lot of power.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It is a lot of power. And again it's all speculation,
but it just highlights the potential influence that publicists have
over what we see and what we believe about celebrity
about celebrities, Yeah, it is unsettling. It is a little
bit unsettling.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, it's like, how much of what we know about
our favorite stars is even real?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Is actually real? It's a good question, it is, And
I think it's important to remember too that, you know,
we often put celebrities on these pedestals, but they're just
human beings with flaws and complexities, just like us, Just
like us, And publicists play a role in constructing that
image that we see.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
It's like they're creating a brand. Yeah, almost like a product.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Almost like a product exactly, And.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
In a way, celebrities are products marketed and sold.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Marketed and sold to the public.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Ye, to the public.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So where what does all of this leave us?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Good question.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
We've got accusations, denials, lawsuits, and a whole lot of speculation.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
It's a mess. It's a big mess.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
What's the next chapter?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Oh, that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
In this Hollywood saga.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Really hard to say for sure, but you know, with
so much at stake, reputations, careers, and potentially even justice
for alleged victims, I think it's pretty safe to say
that this story is far from over right.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
We're not done yet. No, and as this story unfolds,
it's important, I think, for us as consumers of entertainment
news to remember that there's often more going on behind
the headlines than we realize we realize. Yeah, absolutely, it's
not always as simple as it seems, not at all. Yeah,
(15:55):
And you know, it's easy to get caught up in
all the gossip, oh yeah, and the drama. Absolutely, But
at the heart of this are some very serious allegations
of misconduct, very serious. You know, this isn't just about
who wins this pr battle. It's about creating a culture
of accountability in Hollywood, absolutely, and Lively's accusations, if they're true,
(16:19):
they really point to a much larger issue of power
dynamics in.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The industry in Hollywood and how that power can.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Be abused exactly. And it really makes you think about
it does all the other stories that might be out there,
that's sure, you know, all the people who haven't felt
safe enough to speak up.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, it's a very sobering thought.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It is, it is, and it underscores just how much
courage it takes for someone like Blake Lively to come
forward and speak out, absolutely knowing that she's going to
face scrutiny for sure, and skepticism and potentially even backlash.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Absolutely for doing so. Yeah, and especially when you're going
up against someone like BULLDONI, who has you know, carefully
crafted this positive public image.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Yeah, this whole case, with all of its twifts and turns,
it really feels like it could potentially be a turning point.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah. I think so too.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
You know, it's really sparked a conversation it has about
the treatment of women in Hollywood, the role of publicists
in shaping these narratives, and the need for more transparency
absolutely and accountability. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And it's definitely put a spotlight on these issues in
a way that we haven't really seen before.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
So do you think this could lead to like a
larger reckoning. Oh that's a good question in Hollywood. Yeah,
a moment where Hollywood finally starts to address these systemic problems.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, it's hard to say for sure, Yeah, but I
do think that it's possible.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
The more people who speak out, the harder it's going
to be for the industry to ignore these issues, to
just sweep it under the rug exactly. This case could
empower other people who have experienced similar situations to come
forward and demand change.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, I really hope so, me too, because you know,
for real change to happen, there needs to be there's
a shift in the culture. Absolutely, it can't just be
about one case or one celebrity.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It has to be bigger than that. It has to
be about creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respective,
regardless of their gender or status.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today.
I think so too, from the specific allegations against Baldoni
to the broader implications of this case for Hollywood and beyond.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Absolutely, it's a big story with a lot of layers.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
It is.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So as we're wrapping up here, what's the one.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Thing that you hope listeners take away?
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, what's the one thing you want people to remember.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
From this whole conversation, from this deep dive. I think
the biggest takeaway is just to be critical consumers of information.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Yeah, don't just take things at face value, right, look
beyond the headlines, consider the sources, and just recognize that
there are often multiple perspectives at play.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
That's great advice.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, I think it's really important.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Yeah, it's so easy to get caught up, you know,
it is in the whirlwind of celebrity news. Yeah, and
I think it's really important to remember. Absolutely, but these
are real people's lives. Yeah, And there's often more to
this story, there is than we see on the surface. Absolutely,
And this whole situation I think really reminds us that
power dynamics exist everywhere. They do, not just in.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Hollywood, not just in Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
They're everywhere, and I think it's just really important to
be aware of those dynamics and to use our own
voices to challenge injustice. Yeah, and to advocate for a
more equitable world.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
That's a great note to end on. I think. Thank
you so much for joining me on this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Of course, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's been quite a journey it has for everybody listening.
Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time
for another deep dive.
All right, buckle up, everybody, because today we are diving
(00:04):
headfirst into a Hollywood hurricane.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ooh, I like that, a Hollywood hurricane.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yeah. We are talking about the It Ends with Us
movie and all the dramas, so much drama surrounding this
movie behind the scenes, and it all centers around Blake
Lively and Justin Buldoni, you know, stars of the film.
And if you don't know, the movie is based on
a romance novel, popular book, yeah, very popular book fans
by Colleen Hoover.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yes, but here's the thing, Oh yeah, go on.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
This is way more than just like you know, your
usual celebrity feud. It is we're talking serious.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Allegations, Oh, very serious.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Allegations of harassment. There might be a pr war being waged.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Definitely seems that way.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And you know, we get to peek behind the curtain
a little bit and see how these Hollywood narratives are.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Constructed, how the sausage is made exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So let's just jump right in. We've got Blake Lively,
who you know, has a reputation for being pretty paul yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Very put together. She is accusing her director and co
star in the film, Justin Buldoni of some pretty serious
misconduct that happened on set, right.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
And it is interesting, isn't it, because you know, Justin
Baldoni has this very carefully cultivated image as this sensitive guy,
you know, this empathetic guy. And then Lively's legal complaint
comes out and she's making these claims that he was
improvising these kissing scenes, aw and adding in these intimate
(01:34):
scenes without her consent and making all these inappropriate comments
even I'm showing her explicit material that's.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Not okay, no, yeah, yeah, it is. It's really unsettling,
Like the contrast between you know, his public persona and
these allegations, it's pretty stark. And then, to make matters worse,
Lively also claims that he repeatedly entered her trailer huh
without her permission.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Right, and even even when she was breastfeeding, oh my gosh,
and told her that he could communicate with her deceased father.
That is, how do you even respond to that?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Right?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Like, where where do you begin with that?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I know, I know, and it's important to note here, right, Yeah,
these are very serious accusations, and Lively actually filed an.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
HR complaint during filming.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
During the filming of the movie.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So this isn't something that just came up after the.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Movie was released, right, like trying to get some extra
press for the movie. You know, it suggests there's actually
a pattern of behavior here, right.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
It adds weight to what she's saying. Absolutely, it wasn't
just this, you know, one off disagreement or misinterpretation exactly
on set. There's a history here exactly. So naturally, Baldoni's
side has responded.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Of course, you know, it's got to say something, of course, right,
So his lawyer has issued a statement, okay, and they
are denying everything, calling all of Lively's accusations false, outrageous,
and intentionally salacious.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
They're basically saying that she's making all of this up.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Okay, So we've got this right, like he said, she said,
going on with the harassment, right, But then it gets
even more complicated. Oh yeah, with this whole smear campaign accusation.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh yeah, what.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Is going on there?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Right? So Lively is alleging that after she filed that
HR complaint, that Baldoni and his team went on the
offensive and they basically launched a coordinated effort to damage
her reputation. So this alleged smear campaign was meant to
really paint her in a negative light and undermine her credibility.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So like a classic Hollywood revenge plot, right, you.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Could say that, Okay, the complaint actually names specific people,
So it names these publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan okay,
And it is alleging that they were planting these negative
stories about Lively, oh wow, and trying to really manipulate
public opinion against her.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Is there any evidence to support these claims that there's
this pr war going on?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So the complaint includes alleged text messages, okay, from Baldoni's
publicist to a studio publicist, and the text messages supposedly
the publicist is talking about wanting to bury Lively.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Wow, very Lively. That's pretty aggressive, it is, it is.
It really makes you think about how much power these
publicists have behind the scenes in Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Right, Like, how much influence do they have?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Absolutely, they have a lot of influence. They're the ones
who are shaping the narratives, right, They're controlling the flow
of information to the media. So this whole situation with
Lively and Baldoni, it's really shining a light on the
sort of hidden machinery of Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
It makes you wonder, like, how much of what we
see in the news, in celebrity news, how much of
that is real and how much of it is just
carefully constructed pr spin.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Right, you know, exactly? And this is where it gets
really interesting. Okay, because Baldoni's form publicist, her name is
Stephanie Jones, she has entered the fray.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Oh no, and is now suing Baldoni.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Wait, so Baldoni's own former publicist is suing him, Yes, as.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Well as Abel and Nathan, those other two publicists we
were just talking about for Breacher contract.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
So Jones is claiming that she knew nothing about this
smear campaign against Lively, and she is accusing Abel and
Nathan of basically going rogue and acting independence, oh against
her wishes.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Okay. So now we've got Lively accusing Baldoni, Baldoni denying everything,
and his former publicist suing everybody.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Pretty much sums it up.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Is your head spinning yet mine is a little bit?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
But it gets even more twisted. Oh no, So there
are rumors out there that Jones herself, who might have
been involved in the smear campaign might be the one
who provided Lively's team with those incriminating text messages.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Wait, so the person who may have been orchestrating the
smear campaign is now the one who potentially helped expose it.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
It's a real head scratcher, it is, isn't it? And
it really shows you how ruthless this industry can be
and how complex all these relationships are.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
It's not just about the stars themselves, It's about this
whole network of publicists, agents and studios.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Right, everybody's vying for control. Yes, it really makes you
question everything you read about.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Celebrities, everything you see, everything you hear, like.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
What's real and what's just manufactured?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Exactly? And this whole case is just this big reminder
that the public narrative is very often just the tip
of the iceberg. Yeah, there's so much going on beneath
the surface, all this strategy and manipulation. It's hard to
know what's really going on.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Sometimes it really makes you wonder, like who else in
Hollywood might be caught up in all this.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Oh, I'm sure there's more to uncover. We'll get to
that a little bit later, Okay, but first, let's talk
about the public reaction. To all of this, okay, because
it's been very interesting to see who has come out
in support Lively, and some of it has been pretty surprising.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, coming from some unexpected corners.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah. Yeah, And it really just makes you realize how
much weight those public pronouncements carry when you have someone
like Jenny Slaate coming forward to support Lively. You know,
she actually co starred in the film as Baldoni's character's sister.
That carries a lot of weight in Hollywood because people
listen to what she has to say.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And it's interesting right because her statement, it wasn't just
like a casual tweet. You know, she released an actual
statement calling Lively a loyal friend and a trusted source
of emotional support. She even praised Lively for her bravery
and speaking out.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That's huge.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
It is, especially in an industry where speaking out can
be career suicide pretty much. So that was a really
strong show of solidarity from Jenny.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Slat Yeah for sure. And you know, we also can't
forget it about Colleen Hoover, the author of the book.
The author of the book, She also took to social
media to express her support. Yeah, she's real, Lively. She did,
and even commended Lively's character, right, and thank her for
her contributions to the film.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, which I thought was really interesting considering, you know,
the book itself has actually sparked a lot of debate
about its depiction of domestic abuse. Right, So I thought
it was really interesting that she still came out and
supported Lively.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Yeah. It definitely adds another layer of complexity to the
whole situation, it really does. And then there's Lively's brother
in law, oh Dark Johnson, right, who you might remember, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
You probably recognize him from the high.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
School musical films.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
He really didn't hold back.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
He did not.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I mean, calling Baldoni a fraud on social media that's
pretty bold.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
It is a pretty bold move, especially you know, in
this industry where everybody's kind of worried about what other
people think and their reputations.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
It was definitely a strong statement, it was. And he
even accused Baldoni of hiding behind this persona of being
you know, like a hero and a good guy.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Is this perfect guy?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, like the perfect guy, and accused him of manipulating
people with like trendy catchphrases and buzzwords.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Oh yeah, that's pretty harsh, it is.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah. He even went as far as to encourage people
to rewatch Baldoni's videos with a more critical.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Eye, with a more discerning eye.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, like implying that there's more to the story that
meets the eye. Yeah. And Johnson's comments they really get
to the heart of this, you know, this bigger conversation
that we're having about image versus reality in Hollywood, how
much of what we see is genuine and authentic versus
how much of it is just carefully constructed by these publicists.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
These PR teams and PR teams.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty fascinating, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
It's fascinating and a little bit terrifying. Yeah, at the
same time.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, It's like, this whole situation is a case study
in the power of public perception and how quickly that
can all change depending on who's controlling the narrative. Exactly,
And it raises some interesting questions about what happens when
that control, that control over the narrative is used to
(10:21):
silence victims or to protect abusers.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
To protect powerful people who are doing bad things.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Yeah, exactly. Think about it. If these allegations against Baldoni
are true, and his team is really trying to discredit
Lively that could prevent other potential victims from coming forward.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
And it's a really chilling thought. It is because so
much of this comes down to who you believe. And
in Hollywood, where image is everything, yeah, it's very.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Easy for those with power and resources to kind of
manipulate the narrative in their.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Face, to control the story.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely, And this whole situation with Baldoni's former publicist, Stephanie Jones,
really highlights how cutthroat is this world.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Is it is.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
You know, she's suing Baldoni for breach of contract, but
she's also suing Abel and Nathan, the publicist that Lively
is accusing of orchestrating the smear campaign.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Yeah, so everybody is suing everybody.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
It's like this game of chess, it is, where everybody
is making these strategic moves, Yeah, to protect themselves absolutely.
But you know, here's the thing that really gets me.
There are rumors that Jones, who may have been involved
in this smear campaign herself, might be the one who
leaks those incriminating text messages to Lively's team.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, I mean what it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Yeah, So the person who may have been orchestrating this
whole smear campaign is now the one who potentially helped
expose it.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Plot twist.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
It is right, and it really makes you wonder about
her motivations, Like what's going on there?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Like is this a play for power?
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Is she trying to redeem herself or is it something else?
Entirely we just don't know. Yeah, but whatever her reasons are,
it's very clear that publicists like Jones play a significant
role in shaping the stories that we hear about celebrities.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
They're the ones who are controlling the access to information.
They're spinning narratives, and they can make or break careers.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yeah, it's scary. It is how much power they have.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
And it brings us back to that question of how
much control they really have right over public perception. Do
you remember when we were talking about Duayne the Rock Johnson, Yes, earlier.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And Stephanie Jones's worked with him. Yeah, I'm actually really
curious to hear more about that, Okay, because you know
the Rock, he has this squeaky clean.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Image, Yeah, very family friendly.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Very family friendly. Was that all thanks to a savvy publicist?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Well, it's more nuanced than that. But while Jones was
representing Johnson, he was very well known for his professionalism
and he pretty much avoided all negative.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Press, So nothing negative ever came out about.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Him pretty much.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
But then after they parted ways, some less than flattering
stories started to surface about the Rock.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Oh really, like what kind of stories?
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well, there were reports about him being difficult on set,
showing up late, and even urinating in bottles.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
That's so unlike image.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, and whether those stories are true or exaggerated is debatable,
but the timing of their release right after his split
with Jones, it definitely raises some questions.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Are you suggesting, Well, I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Just saying that it's possible that Jones was suppressing.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Those stories while she was representing him.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
She was representing him, right, Okay, and then maybe she
released them after they parted ways. Kind of crazy if
you think about it, like.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
She's weaponizing information.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, in a way.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
It's a lot of power.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It is a lot of power. And again it's all speculation,
but it just highlights the potential influence that publicists have
over what we see and what we believe about celebrity
about celebrities, Yeah, it is unsettling. It is a little
bit unsettling.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, it's like, how much of what we know about
our favorite stars is even real?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Is actually real? It's a good question, it is, And
I think it's important to remember too that, you know,
we often put celebrities on these pedestals, but they're just
human beings with flaws and complexities, just like us, Just
like us, And publicists play a role in constructing that
image that we see.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
It's like they're creating a brand. Yeah, almost like a product.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Almost like a product exactly, And.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
In a way, celebrities are products marketed and sold.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Marketed and sold to the public.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Ye, to the public.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So where what does all of this leave us?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Good question.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
We've got accusations, denials, lawsuits, and a whole lot of speculation.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
It's a mess. It's a big mess.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
What's the next chapter?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Oh, that's a good question.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
In this Hollywood saga.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Really hard to say for sure, but you know, with
so much at stake, reputations, careers, and potentially even justice
for alleged victims, I think it's pretty safe to say
that this story is far from over right.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
We're not done yet. No, and as this story unfolds,
it's important, I think, for us as consumers of entertainment
news to remember that there's often more going on behind
the headlines than we realize we realize. Yeah, absolutely, it's
not always as simple as it seems, not at all. Yeah,
(15:55):
And you know, it's easy to get caught up in
all the gossip, oh yeah, and the drama. Absolutely, But
at the heart of this are some very serious allegations
of misconduct, very serious. You know, this isn't just about
who wins this pr battle. It's about creating a culture
of accountability in Hollywood, absolutely, and Lively's accusations, if they're true,
(16:19):
they really point to a much larger issue of power
dynamics in.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
The industry in Hollywood and how that power can.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Be abused exactly. And it really makes you think about
it does all the other stories that might be out there,
that's sure, you know, all the people who haven't felt
safe enough to speak up.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, it's a very sobering thought.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It is, it is, and it underscores just how much
courage it takes for someone like Blake Lively to come
forward and speak out, absolutely knowing that she's going to
face scrutiny for sure, and skepticism and potentially even backlash.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Absolutely for doing so. Yeah, and especially when you're going
up against someone like BULLDONI, who has you know, carefully
crafted this positive public image.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Yeah, this whole case, with all of its twifts and turns,
it really feels like it could potentially be a turning point.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah. I think so too.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
You know, it's really sparked a conversation it has about
the treatment of women in Hollywood, the role of publicists
in shaping these narratives, and the need for more transparency
absolutely and accountability. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And it's definitely put a spotlight on these issues in
a way that we haven't really seen before.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
So do you think this could lead to like a
larger reckoning. Oh that's a good question in Hollywood. Yeah,
a moment where Hollywood finally starts to address these systemic problems.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, it's hard to say for sure, Yeah, but I
do think that it's possible.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
The more people who speak out, the harder it's going
to be for the industry to ignore these issues, to
just sweep it under the rug exactly. This case could
empower other people who have experienced similar situations to come
forward and demand change.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, I really hope so, me too, because you know,
for real change to happen, there needs to be there's
a shift in the culture. Absolutely, it can't just be
about one case or one celebrity.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
It has to be bigger than that. It has to
be about creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respective,
regardless of their gender or status.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today.
I think so too, from the specific allegations against Baldoni
to the broader implications of this case for Hollywood and beyond.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Absolutely, it's a big story with a lot of layers.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
It is.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So as we're wrapping up here, what's the one.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Thing that you hope listeners take away?
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, what's the one thing you want people to remember.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
From this whole conversation, from this deep dive. I think
the biggest takeaway is just to be critical consumers of information.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Yeah, don't just take things at face value, right, look
beyond the headlines, consider the sources, and just recognize that
there are often multiple perspectives at play.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
That's great advice.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yeah, I think it's really important.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Yeah, it's so easy to get caught up, you know,
it is in the whirlwind of celebrity news. Yeah, and
I think it's really important to remember. Absolutely, but these
are real people's lives. Yeah, And there's often more to
this story, there is than we see on the surface. Absolutely,
And this whole situation I think really reminds us that
power dynamics exist everywhere. They do, not just in.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Hollywood, not just in Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
They're everywhere, and I think it's just really important to
be aware of those dynamics and to use our own
voices to challenge injustice. Yeah, and to advocate for a
more equitable world.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
That's a great note to end on. I think. Thank
you so much for joining me on this deep dive.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Of course, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's been quite a journey it has for everybody listening.
Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time
for another deep dive.
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