Allegedly compiled by the agency TAG PR, which represents Nathan, the document outlines various potential scenarios in the event that Blake Lively and her team decide to go public with their grievances. One strategy mentioned in the document is to provide a more detailed version of the facts to key individuals, including off-the-record discussions with media contacts considered “trusted friendlies.” In one instance, an email from Abel to producer Heath suggested that a well-connected contact in the media was prepared to run a story about Lively’s alleged manipulation of feminism as soon as they received the green light.
Subsequently, Nathan shared a link to a Daily Mail article speculating about potential repercussions for Blake Lively following negative publicity surrounding videos promoting her film. In response, Abel praised the article, to which Nathan confidently remarked, “That’s why you hired me, right? I’m the best.”
In response to the leaked text messages and emails presented in Lively’s legal filing, Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, questioned the authenticity and context of the communications. He suggested that The New York Times inadvertently played into Lively’s own PR tactics by publishing the leaked personal exchanges without full context. Freedman emphasized that the messages were obtained through a subpoena and may lack critical context.
Freedman vehemently denied the allegations made by Lively in her complaint, characterizing them as a desperate attempt to salvage her tarnished reputation. He portrayed Baldoni’s hiring of a crisis manager as a defensive response to what they perceived as false stories circulated by Lively’s team prior to the film’s marketing campaign.
Freedman highlighted the absence of evidence in the correspondence to support proactive media engagement, asserting that the discussions were part of routine scenario planning and strategy sessions common in public relations practice.
Prior to Freedman’s statement, THR and Rolling Stone reported that Abel, Baldoni, and Wayfarer Studios’ publicist responded to Lively’s allegations in posts shared on a Facebook group that have since been deleted. Abel mentioned that no negative press was orchestrated and no social combat plan was put into action, although they were prepared for any scenario as part of their job. She also remarked on how fans were recognizing their clients’ work without much effort on their part, as the internet was doing the work for them.
Abel acknowledged that they had discussions about social media reactions to Lively, whom she described as causing difficulties for them. She claimed to have discovered during the “It Ends With Us” marketing campaign that there were efforts to spread negative stories about Baldoni if he did not comply with certain demands.
USA TODAY has reached out to Abel for comment on the matter. Lively’s complaint to the California Civil Rights Department detailed instances where she had to address concerns about Baldoni and Heath’s behavior before filming the movie, leading to a meeting to tackle the hostile work environment. Lively insisted on several terms for resuming filming, including the presence of an intimacy coordinator whenever she was on set with Baldoni.
Lively’s complaint also mentioned alleged efforts by Nathan and TAG PR to spread negative content about her and engage in “astroturfing” to smear her reputation. Alleged email exchanges indicated discussions about burying Lively and manipulating social media attitudes towards Baldoni and Lively.
In conclusion, Lively’s attorneys emphasized that the complaint aimed to set the record straight, hold the Wayfarer Parties and Associates accountable, and raise awareness about this form of retaliation against those who speak out against sexual harassment.
