Blake Lively’s legal team calls Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit a classic ‘abuser playbook’ tactic

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Blake Lively has responded strongly to Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit, with her legal team calling it a leaf out of the classic abuser playbook.

On January 16, Thursday, the drama surrounding the 'It Ends With Us' stars just got messier after Baldoni filed a 179-page complaint against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, accusing them of defamation, extortion, and breach of contract.

Blake Lively’s legal team slams Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit as retaliatory

Justin Baldoni alleged in the lawsuit that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds hijacked the production and marketing of the film 'It Ends With Us' and manipulated media to smear Baldoni and others on the production with false allegations of harassment.

In reaction, Blake Lively’s lawyers issued a statement, comparing the lawsuit to the DARVO pattern—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender—stating that the suit is a retaliatory move following Lively’s allegations against Baldoni, which she filed in December.

“This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook,” said Lively’s Manatt, Phelps & Phillips attorneys and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP on Thursday evening in a statement provided to Deadline.

"This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim," the statement read.

Baldoni claimed that Lively pressured Wayfarer into agreeing to her Return to Production Demands after the industry strikes, asserting that the document allowed her to take control of the film while implying misconduct on set, per Hollywood Reporter.

However, Lively’s team dismissed these accusations as distractions, noting that many cast members had issues with Baldoni, and emphasizing that Sony chose Lively to oversee the final cut of the successful film.

Sony eventually went with Lively’s cut of 'It Ends With Us', and has backed the actress in her dispute with Baldoni.

Lively’s lawyers further stated, "This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender," and criticized Baldoni's counter lawsuit for focusing on blaming Lively, stating, "While the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim."

They added, "The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms Lively’s complaint, and it will fail."

In December last year, Lively filed a civil rights complaint, claiming that she was harassed by Baldoni during the production of the film and that Baldoni had orchestrated a media smear campaign against her.

Internet reacts to Blake Lively’s legal team’s criticism of Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit

As soon as news broke of Blake Lively’s legal team criticizing Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit as retaliatory, social media users began reacting, many of them condemning Lively.

A user mocked Lively, "Oh you poor little victim thats your response ? sounds to me hun you maybe the abuser."

Another added, "I don't believe her."

The third commentator remarked, "Blake knows all about being mean."

"Does anyone believe her after he released so much receipts? She's lying so hard," said a supporter of Baldoni.

A person said, "Damage control hardcore. You know they’re trying allllll the stops when they keep this up. Ryan and Blake cred slipping by the day."

Another chimed in, "Blake has no receipts. she just deflects. it's not looking good for you girl."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.