Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni is embroiled in a heated legal battle, with new allegations surfacing against his former publicist, Stephanie Jones. The latest development in this ongoing saga accuses Jones of leaking confidential text messages, which purportedly ignited the broader legal conflict between Baldoni and actress Blake Lively. This revelation adds another layer of complexity to a dispute that has already drawn significant media attention.

Baldoni’s company, Wayfarer Studios, along with his publicist Jennifer Abel, has taken legal action against Jones. This lawsuit is closely tied to the existing legal battle between Baldoni and Lively, who co-starred in and worked on the film It Ends With Us. Lively had previously filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging sexual harassment during production, followed by a calculated smear campaign designed to tarnish her reputation. In response, Baldoni countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, accusing them of defamation and an attempt to take control of the film.

Jones, who was Baldoni’s publicist during the time these tensions arose, has been accused of exacerbating the situation. According to Wayfarer Studios, Jones engaged in misconduct by leaking confidential messages to the press, violating her professional obligations. Wayfarer’s legal filings suggest that Jones was struggling with professional instability, losing clients, and dealing with negative media coverage when she allegedly shared sensitive information with Blake Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloan. These leaks, according to Wayfarer, contributed to the media frenzy surrounding Baldoni and the film.

Wayfarer Studios and Abel claim that Jones’ actions resulted in serious reputational damage to Baldoni and the company. The leaked messages were used to support Lively’s allegations, portraying Baldoni and his associates as engaging in a coordinated effort to undermine her. Wayfarer argues that Jones deliberately handed over private communications that, when taken out of context, painted a misleading picture of the situation.

The lawsuit also highlights an incident on August 8, 2024, when Jones allegedly contacted a Daily Mail reporter about the dispute, violating direct instructions from Wayfarer to refrain from speaking to the press. This move reportedly alarmed Sony, which co-financed and distributed the film, fearing that the conflict could overshadow the film’s release. The fallout from Jones’ alleged actions led to a breakdown in her professional relationship with Wayfarer and Baldoni, culminating in her termination.

Furthermore, Wayfarer alleges that Jones went on to advocate for a more aggressive PR strategy, despite instructions to the contrary. According to the lawsuit, she insisted that Baldoni was not being adequately represented in the media and pushed for a proactive approach to counteract the narrative surrounding him. Despite these efforts, Wayfarer asserts that it had already distanced itself from Jones and had placed trust in crisis management expert Melissa Nathan and publicist Jennifer Abel to handle the situation.

The legal documents filed by Wayfarer paint Jones as the primary instigator behind the leaks that fueled the controversy. They argue that her betrayal resulted in irreversible damage to Baldoni’s reputation, costing him professional opportunities and threatening the viability of Wayfarer Studios. As this legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how these allegations will play out in court and what impact they will have on all parties involved.

This latest lawsuit underscores the high stakes and intense scrutiny surrounding the dispute between Baldoni and Lively. With both sides engaged in legal warfare, the entertainment industry and the public are watching closely as new revelations continue to emerge.