Justin Baldoni hits back at 'categorically false accusations'

Justin Baldoni’s lawyer has accused Blake Lively of making “categorically false accusations” against his client.

The 40-year-old actor has hit back against his It Ends with Us co-star, who is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment.

Bryan Freedman, who is acting as a lawyer for the actor and his Wayfarer Studios production company, told Variety: “It is shameful that Ms Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real-time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”

Freedman has accused Lively of making “multiple demands and threats” during production.

He said: “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.

“Wayfarer Studios made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production which included her threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

Lively has accused Baldoni - who also directed It Ends with Us - of causing her to suffer “severe emotional distress”.

And in a statement given to the New York Times newspaper, she said: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”

In light of the claims, Deadline reported that Baldoni has been dropped by his talent agency WME.