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Legal Action Filed Against The New York Times by Baldoni, Wayfarer, and Others
Los Angeles, CA – December 31, 2024 – Several individuals and entities, including Baldoni and Wayfarer, initiated legal proceedings against The New York Times on December 31. The lawsuit alleges defamation and other grievances stemming from a published article.
Plaintiffs Allege Defamation, Privacy Invasion, and Fraud
According to the legal complaint obtained by E! News, the plaintiffs accuse The New York Times of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied contract. These accusations are in response to a New York Times article detailing a purported retaliatory smear campaign allegedly orchestrated by the plaintiffs against Lively. This campaign reportedly occurred after Lively raised concerns about alleged misconduct on a film or television set.
Dispute Over Accuracy of New York Times Report
The plaintiffs contend that the New York Times report was “false” and heavily relied on Lively’s initial complaint. They specifically refute the allegations, asserting that messages referenced in both the article and the complaint were presented without proper context.
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“Despite claiming to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents,’ the Times predominantly based its reporting on Lively’s unverified and self-serving account,” the lawsuit states. “It adopted her narrative almost verbatim while disregarding substantial evidence that contradicted her assertions and revealed her true motivations.”
Counter-Accusations of Smear Campaign
Furthermore, the plaintiffs allege that Lively herself, not them, was responsible for initiating a “calculated smear campaign.” Lively has reportedly denied these counter-allegations.
The New York Times Responds to Lawsuit
The New York Times has issued a statement indicating its intention to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
In a statement to E! News, the publication asserted, “The role of an independent news organization is to pursue the facts wherever they may lead. Our reporting was conducted with meticulous care and responsibility. It was grounded in an examination of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that are quoted accurately and extensively in our article.”