Blake Lively Accused of Using Journalists as ‘Pawns’ in Justin Baldoni Sexual Harassment Suit

A journalist caught up in the public feud between Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni claims the actress is using her “as a pawn”.

Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa was cast by Lively after the pair starred together in Colleen Hoover’s film adaptation of It Ends With Us. Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni. Since the film’s premiere, Lively has accused Baldoni of engaging in a deliberate smear campaign to destroy the actress’ reputation.

During the “It Ends With Us” press tour in August, Flaa uploaded a video of a 2016 interview with Lively titled, “The Blake Lively interview made me want to quit.” After congratulating the “Lady” star on her pregnancy, Flah seemed to be experiencing an uncomfortable moment with Lively.

“My name was just printed in the lawsuit, and there wasn’t really any background information – just headlines from the news outlets. [that covered Flaa’s video] ….but they didn’t mention my video more in the lawsuit because they knew it had to do with [Baldoni’s] campaign so they can’t put it into any legal documents. Instead, they gave it to The New York Times,” the reporter told The Ankler. “They thought they could implicate me in this.

Justin Baldoni calls Blake Lively’s accusations ‘false and damaging’, lawyer says new lawsuit will reveal truth

In the video, Flah congratulates Lively on her “little belly.” Lively responded: “Congratulations on your baby bump.” However, Flah was not pregnant at the time. The video attracted attention on social media and received more than 6 million views on YouTube.

Fola claimed that the inclusion of her film in the lawsuit suggested she was part of Baldoni’s alleged smear campaign, but the reporter insisted she had nothing to do with it. The New York Times, which first reported Lively’s claims, noted that Furla released excerpts from the interview during Johnny Depp’s trial against Amber Heard, and noted that Depp was also Baldoni’s crisis communications representative. client.

“It’s there [Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’] “They were interested in dragging me down, discrediting me as a journalist and painting me as corrupt because it would make her look better,” Forra told The Ankler. Believe this story. The way they did it was so dirty to me because I couldn’t protect myself. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, they’re giants in Hollywood… They used me as a pawn.

Fox News Digital has reached out to representatives for Lively, The New York Times and Flaa for additional comment.

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Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment in a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday, December 31. (Getty Images)

“Given that Lively’s attorneys had access to thousands of pages of text messages and emails, it is difficult to believe that they were unaware that I was not involved in the alleged defamation campaign,” Fula wrote in a statement to USA TODAY.

“This makes it all the more troubling that The New York Times chose to imply my involvement based solely on a hashtag from a 2022 Johnny Depp video on my YouTube channel.”

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds attended the premiere of “This Is Us,” months after Blake Lively sued co-star Justin Baldoni (Justin Baldoni). (Getty Images)

Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath made graphically detailed accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and more in complaints filed first with the California Civil Rights Division and later in federal court File a lawsuit.

According to the complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, the actress held an “all hands meeting” on Jan. 4, 2024, regarding Baldoni and Heath’s alleged conduct, which was also attended by her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

“Ms. Lively was forced to raise concerns about inappropriate behavior by Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath directly with them, and began doing so months before filming began,” the complaint reads. “The concerns she raised were not only It was directed at herself, but also at other female cast and crew members, some of whom also spoke out.”

Justin Baldoni attends the premiere of “This Is Us” with his wife. The actor has denied Blake Lively’s accusations against him. (Getty Images)

In a previous statement to The New York Times, Lively said, “I hope my legal action helps lift the lid on these sinister revenge tactics designed to harm those who dare speak out about wrongdoing and help Protect others who may be targeted.

Additionally, Lively denied that she or any of her representatives spread or disseminated negative information about Baldoni or Wayfarer, the Times reported.

Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer, told the Times, “These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally obscene, designed to publicly hurt and reshape the media narrative. .

Friedman added that Wayfarer and its executives and PR team “did not take any proactive or retaliatory action” against Lively. Friedman claimed Lively’s complaint was “yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation.”

Baldoni’s attorney hinted at the possibility of a lawsuit against Lively. (Getty Images)

Bardoni later sued the New York Times for defamation. The actor’s attorney hinted that a separate lawsuit against Lively is also possible.

However, Lively’s team noted that her accusations are “supported by concrete facts.”

“This is not a ‘feud’ arising out of ‘creative differences’ or a ‘he said/she said’ situation,” her attorney told Fox News Digital. “As alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and as we will prove in the lawsuit, Wayfarer [Studios] Ms. Lively was simply trying to protect herself and others on the film set, so the company and its associates engaged in an unlawful retaliatory attack on Ms. Lively. Since Ms. Lively filed the lawsuit, they have responded to the lawsuit with more attacks on her.

Lively’s lawyer said her accusations are “supported by concrete facts.” Baldoni’s lawyers said they would release “all evidence” showing a “pattern of bullying.” (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Baldoni and his team claim there’s more to come.

Friedman said in a statement to People: “Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of weaponizing the media, while her own team sent a crudely edited version of the document to The New York Times before filing the complaint. documents, carefully planning this malicious attack.

“We are releasing all the evidence that will show a pattern of bullying and threats taking over this film,” Friedman added. “None of this will come as a surprise because of Blake Lively’s past behavior. Consistent with her past behavior, she used other people to communicate these threats and bully her to get whatever she wanted. We have all the receipts and more,” he claimed.

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