In a dramatic twist to the ongoing legal feud between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has firmly denied allegations that she leaked damaging text messages to Lively. The messages, which surfaced in a high-profile New York Times report, allegedly show Baldoni’s team orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively. Jones insists she provided the communications only to comply with a legal subpoena, escalating tensions in a case that has captivated Hollywood.
The controversy stems from Lively’s December 2024 lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and defamation during the production of their hit film. Central to her claims are text messages from Baldoni’s publicists, including one from crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan stating, “We can bury anyone.” These exchanges, retrieved from a work phone belonging to Jones’ former colleague Jennifer Abel, were pivotal in Lively’s case, painting Baldoni’s team as retaliatory.
Jones, who was added to Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit in March 2025, filed court documents on April 10, 2025, refuting claims of misconduct. Her legal team asserts that she acted under legal obligation when handing over the texts, which were subpoenaed by Lively’s attorneys in October 2024. Jones’ lawyer, Maaren Shah, called Baldoni’s accusations “falsehoods” meant to distract from his team’s actions, alleging that Baldoni and Abel breached contracts with her firm, Jonesworks.
Baldoni’s camp, however, argues the texts were selectively shared to misrepresent their intent, causing Abel to face online harassment. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, previously claimed Jones’ actions violated client trust, sparking this “catastrophic” chain of events. The legal saga, now involving multiple lawsuits, has raised questions about the authenticity of the subpoena, with Baldoni’s team suggesting it may lack validity due to timeline inconsistencies.
As the dispute unfolds, both sides remain entrenched, with Jones seeking to clear her name and Lively and Baldoni trading serious allegations. The case continues to unravel in court, leaving fans and industry insiders watching closely for the next development in this blockbuster Hollywood drama.
