Lively’s legal filing brought to light her concerns regarding alleged misconduct on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Following her complaints, Baldoni enlisted the services of crisis communications expert Melissa Nathan and her firm, The Agency Group. Notably, Nathan had previously represented Depp in his defamation lawsuit against Heard.
Among the accusations made by Blake Lively were claims of unwanted advances, smear tactics, and more. In pursuit of clarity and balance, USA TODAY has reached out to Bryan Freedman, legal representative for Baldoni, for his perspective.
In response to the unfolding events, Freedman issued a statement to NBC News, casting doubt on the capabilities of TAG PR. He remarked, “TAG PR must be the most formidable assembly of public relations professionals in history to have such a profound impact on the public perception of both Amber Heard and Blake Lively.” Freedman emphasized that the key resemblance between the two cases lies in the transparency of their actions, which have been extensively documented for public scrutiny.
Freedman had previously refuted Lively’s allegations, denouncing them as “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally sensational.” The legal battle between Depp and Heard stemmed from Heard’s publication of an op-ed in The Washington Post detailing her experience of domestic abuse without explicitly naming Depp as the alleged abuser. Depp emerged victorious in the lawsuit, securing over $10 million in damages, while Heard was awarded $2 million after a jury determined she had been defamed by Depp’s former legal counsel.
The high-profile nature of the Depp-Heard trial garnered significant attention on social media platforms in 2022, with video snippets mocking Heard’s emotional testimony on abuse allegations accumulating millions of views.
In a separate incident, during the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards in October 2024, Blake Lively made a public appearance.
Reflecting on the trial and its aftermath, Heard highlighted the outsized role that social media played, asserting that the case had spiraled out of control in that realm. She contended that despite varying opinions on her credibility, the portrayal of events on social media lacked fairness.
Depp consistently refuted Heard’s accusations of domestic abuse. Post-trial, Heard relocated to Spain and recently shared news of her second pregnancy.
Notable figures from the entertainment industry rallied behind Blake Lively amid her confrontation with Baldoni, including her “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn. They stood in solidarity with Lively, commending her courage in confronting the reported efforts to tarnish her reputation.
Author Colleen Hoover, who penned “It Ends With Us,” voiced support for Lively on social media, praising her authenticity and unwavering character.
The support extended to Lively from her colleagues underscores a united front against the challenges she faces, with sentiments of admiration and resilience prevailing in their messages of solidarity.
