Justin Baldoni’s bother appears to be growing.
The actor and director’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the actor, his movie studio Wayfarer, and his disaster PR group, alleging breach of contract and defamation, in keeping with The New York Times.
Jones, the founding father of Jonesworks, represented Baldoni, 40, earlier than his alleged feud with Blake Lively drew public consideration.
Court paperwork reveal that in August, Baldoni reportedly sought to guard his status from allegations of “misogynistic and poisonous on-set habits.”
At the time, Jennifer Abel, a Jonesworks worker and Baldoni’s level of contact, employed disaster PR advisor Melissa Nathan to handle the scenario.
The lawsuit alleges that Abel and Nathan, in coordination with Baldoni and Wayfarer, orchestrated a media smear marketing campaign focusing on Lively. Jones claims she was saved in the dead of night and was subsequently blamed for the marketing campaign.
Jones additionally accuses Abel of trying to undermine her enterprise, alleging that Abel stole over 70 paperwork from Jonesworks and tried to poach shoppers whereas secretly planning to start out her personal agency.
Abel, who now represents Baldoni via her unbiased firm, denies these claims.
Alleged textual content messages from Abel’s firm telephone are included within the lawsuit.
In one message, Abel allegedly described Baldoni as “pompous” and mentioned he wanted “to be humbled.” She additionally allegedly criticized his look and referenced Lively, stating, “Blake was most likely grossed out too.”
Abel reportedly resigned from Jonesworks on July 10 through Zoom, formally departing on August 23. A supply near Abel instructed Page Six that the lawsuit is “retaliatory,” asserting that Baldoni and Wayfarer left with Abel voluntarily.
“Justin and Wayfarer selected to go away with Jennifer Abel and weren’t ‘stolen,’” the supply mentioned, including that different shoppers Abel retained had been hers lengthy earlier than becoming a member of Jonesworks.
A supply near Jones disputes these claims, asserting, “Jen Abel stole various shoppers. Any declare in any other case is preposterous on its face.”
This lawsuit provides one other layer to the continuing controversy surrounding Baldoni.
Over the weekend, Lively went public with a sexual harassment grievance alleging Baldoni tried to break her status via an analogous media marketing campaign.
