Justin Baldoni sued by former publicist as It Ends with Us controversy deepens

Former publicist Stephanie Jones is suing Justin Baldoni and his PR team, alleging a breach of contract, defamation, and a coordinated smear campaign. The lawsuit, tied to the It Ends with Us production, claims manipulation, client poaching, and negative media coverage orchestrated by former collea

Justin Baldoni's former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has filed a lawsuit that adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the It Ends with Us production. Jones, founder of Jonesworks PR firm, is taking legal action against Baldoni, his company, and his current publicity team over an alleged breach of contract and what she describes as a coordinated smear campaign.

According to court documents filed on Tuesday, Jones alleges Baldoni breached their $25,000 monthly contract when he abruptly terminated their agreement in August, just months into what was meant to be a year-long deal. The split occurred after Jonesworks publicist Jennifer Abel departed to establish her own firm.

The lawsuit, filed in New York state court, presents detailed allegations about behind-the-scenes manipulation. Jones claims she "forensically preserved" Abel's company-issued phone, which revealed what she describes as a months-long conspiracy. 

The suit also alleges Abel worked to poach clients while still employed at Jonesworks, cooperating with publicist Melissa Nathan to undermine Jones's reputation in the industry.

“Jones discovered the breadth and intensity of Abel and Nathan’s duplicity from these records, including that Abel was actively encouraging other Jonesworks clients and employees to leave Jonesworks while Abel was still employed there,” the document reads.

Among the more serious allegations, Jones claims Abel and Nathan orchestrated negative media coverage, including planting disparaging stories about Jones in Business Insider last summer. The lawsuit seeks damages for multiple claims, including breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty and defamation.

Attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Abel, Nathan and Baldoni, has responded by threatening legal action against Jones for releasing Abel's phone contents to Blake Lively's legal team through a pre-litigation subpoena. 

The move comes amid mounting tensions between the parties. On Saturday, Lively filed a bombshell legal complaint against Baldani, alleging instances of sexual harassment and an attempted smear campaign, the latter point mirroring Jones’ accusations.  

Both Baldani’s legal and PR teams deny any foul-play. Abel took to a PR and marketing Facebook group to share that the evidence she reviewed “countered every single thing” that Lively’s team have claimed, and that she stands firm in her decision to “stand by” Baldani. He has “dedicated his life to the equal treatment of others, especially women,” she wrote. 

The case has drawn attention from industry figures, with Christina Ricci sharing commentary on the ways in which women in the entertainment industry can be manipulated into conflicts with one another, referencing both Blake Lively and Amber Heard.

“The ease in which women are manipulated into hating each other (even feminist women) is something no one wants to talk about,” Ricci wrote via Instagram stories.

“This is (yet another!) reminder to question our willingness to burn ANY woman,” she continued. 

Hollywood insiders suggest the multiple legal disputes concerning the romance film, starring both Baldani and Lively, could be just the beginning of a larger examination of publicity practices in Hollywood, particularly regarding the handling of sensitive allegations and internal conflicts.

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