Amber Heard Speaks Out on Blake Lively’s Allegations After Justin Baldoni Hired Johnny Depp’s Crisis PR Team: ‘I Saw This Firsthand’ and ‘It’s Horrifying’

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As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for behind-the-scenes drama and a heart that bleeds for the underdog, I find myself deeply troubled by the turn of events surrounding Blake Lively and her ordeal on the set of “It Ends With Us.” The allegations against Justin Baldoni are harrowing, and the apparent attempt to smear Lively’s name is not only unjust but also reminiscent of a darker era in Hollywood history.

Amber Heard publicly backs Blake Lively in her accusations of sexual harassment against director and co-star Justin Baldoni of “It Ends With Us”. In a claim made on Friday, Lively alleged that Baldoni was trying to launch a negative campaign against her. Notably, it was mentioned that during the high-profile 2022 defamation trial involving Amber Heard’s ex-husband Johnny Depp, Baldoni had employed the same crisis PR team.

Social media functions exactly like the old proverb, ‘Falsehood spreads faster than truth,’ which I’ve witnessed personally,” Heard explained in a statement to NBC News. “It’s both terrifying and devastating how quickly misinformation can circulate.

At the 2022 trial, a jury concluded that Amber Heard had defamed Johnny Depp. As a result, he received a total of $15 million in damages – $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. However, Heard, who currently resides in Spain and has mostly withdrawn from the Hollywood scene, was granted only $2 million in compensatory damages.

Lively’s submission encompasses conversations via texts and emails between Baldoni and his PR team, outlining their response strategy online following rumors of a backstage disagreement between the two. According to the lawsuit, Mr. Baldoni and his colleagues at Wayfarer launched an intricate media and digital campaign in response to Lively using her right to speak freely about their alleged misbehavior on set, with an extra aim of intimidating her and anyone else who might disclose the truth about what truly transpired. This is outlined in the lawsuit.

It’s alleged that subcontractors were employed to build a “digital army” across the nation, from New York to Los Angeles. This digital army was tasked with creating, disseminating, and promoting content on social media platforms and online discussion forums that appeared genuine.

The conversation within the complaint’s text message seems to suggest members of Baldoni’s team expressing joy as social media users criticized Lively. One team member is said to have emailed another, stating that Baldoni “doesn’t seem to realize [sic] how fortunate he is,” and they need to emphasize his good fortune more strongly by pressing on him.

Bryan Freedman, acting on behalf of Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios, deemed Amber Heard’s allegations in her complaint as “regrettable” and filled with “completely untrue claims.” Responding to Heard’s remarks made on Monday, Freedman told NBC News: “It seems that TAG PR has an extraordinary influence over public opinion, managing to alter the public perception not only of Amber Heard but also Blake Lively.

He further explained that both scenarios share a common aspect: “Each action they took was visible and extensively captured on video for all to observe, allowing the general public to form their opinions naturally – which they did spontaneously.

Agents from Baldoni’s public relations team, as well as Heard and Depp, failed to provide a response promptly following EbMaster’s inquiry for a statement.

The complaint states that a gathering took place in January specifically to address Lively’s issues upon her return to the set of “It Ends With Us”, following the actors and writers strikes. At this meeting, attended by her husband Ryan Reynolds, Lively claimed that Baldoni had discussed her weight with her personal trainer, probed her about her religious views, and inappropriately brought up his own sexual life. Furthermore, she alleged that Baldoni demanded a reduction of additional sex scenes beyond what was scripted. This request, the complaint adds, was apparently endorsed by the film’s distributor, Sony Pictures.

Following Lively’s filing, noteworthy figures have voiced their support, among them being Colleen Hoover, the author of “It Ends With Us”. Hoover penned a heartfelt message expressing her appreciation for Lively, saying, “You’ve been nothing but truthful, kind, helpful, and patient since our first encounter.” She then posted a photo of herself and Lively in an embrace, adding, “Thank you for being the remarkable person you are. Always stay true to yourself. Never falter.

On Sunday evening, Lively’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel also expressed their support, publishing a statement on social media: “During the filming of ‘It Ends with Us,’ we witnessed her bravely advocating for a safe work environment for herself and her colleagues. We are shocked to learn about the orchestrated and vindictive actions taken to undermine her voice. What is most disturbing is the blatant use of stories from domestic violence survivors to silence a woman who demanded safety. The hypocrisy is staggering.

On platform X, director Paul Feig defended actress Blake Lively, stating that “she should not have been subjected to the unfair smear campaign launched against her. It’s disheartening to see her go through such ordeal.

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2024-12-23 19:47