Justin Baldoni's lawyer announces plans for countersuit against Blake Lively that will ‘shock everyone’

Trigger warning: This article has mentions of abuse.

Justin Baldoni is said to be filing an "explosive" countersuit against It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, who accused him of sexual harassment on the set.

Deadline reported that Baldoni, who was also the director of the 2024 film, is finalizing legal documents which he will submit after New Year's Day.

“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said.

He said it will be supported by "real evidence and tell the true story." He said that in his three decades of practice, he has "never seen this level of unethical behavior intentionally fueled through media manipulation."

While Lively's lawsuit accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign, Baldoni's countersuit will allege that Lively's publicist, Leslie Sloane, was the true perpetrator, the Daily Mail said. This was denied by Sloane.

Baldoni will argue that texts cited in Lively's lawsuit have been taken out of context, denying any involvement in a smear campaign. His team will also assert that Lively's lawsuit is a strategic move to mitigate the negative publicity she received during the promotion of It Ends With Us.

Last week, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and creating a smear campaign against the former. Days since the complaint, the director has denied the allegations, while others, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, have come out in support of Lively.

It Ends With Us follows the story of Lily (Lively), who just moved and is ready to start her life after college. She then meets Ryle (Baldoni), who she falls for. Suddenly, her first love, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), reenters her life, leaving Lily to choose between the two.