The legal conflict between Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has escalated dramatically, involving lawsuits, accusations, and now a high-profile crisis manager with CIA credentials.
Lively has brought on Nick Shapiro, a former deputy chief of staff for the CIA and senior advisor to ex-director John Brennan, to oversee her legal communications strategy, reports Variety.
Shapiro’s involvement highlights the stakes in a contentious dispute between Lively and Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside her in It Ends With Us.
The conflict began in December when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during the film’s 2023 production and alleging he led a 2024 smear campaign against her.
These claims were later reported by The New York Times, sparking a series of legal battles involving more than a dozen individuals and entities.
Baldoni, along with nine others, including his crisis publicist Melissa Nathan, responded by filing a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times.
Lively countersued, accusing Baldoni and his associates of violating federal and state laws by retaliating against her for reporting harassment and workplace safety concerns.
In a further twist, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, and related claims.
The dispute expanded as Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, also filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and Nathan for breach of contract, alleging she was improperly drawn into the conflict after parting ways with Baldoni in 2024.
Meanwhile, Texas-based entrepreneur Jed Wallace has filed a multi-million-dollar defamation suit against Lively, claiming she falsely accused him of leading a “digital army” to damage her reputation, causing significant harm to his career.
Shapiro’s appointment reflects the high stakes for Lively, whose legal team is navigating a public and private battle fraught with reputational and financial risks.
Both Lively and Baldoni remain locked in a spiraling legal war, with each side claiming to be the victim in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
