Clinic fellow Christina Lee weighs in on defamation drama

The romantic drama It Ends With Us premiered in the summer of 2024 with Baldoni and Lively in the leading roles. While the movie did well commercially, a public feud emerged between the two actors. Lively filed an administrative civil rights complaint in California, alleging Baldoni had sexually harassed her during filming and then retaliated when she spoke out about it by concocting a press strategy to bury the allegations and make Lively look bad. The New York Times reported on Lively’s accusations in an article titled: “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine,” that was based in part on Lively’s California complaint. In late 2024, Baldoni sued the New York Times for defamation. He also named the Times as a defendant in his separate lawsuit against Lively and others for defamation and further causes of action. Baldoni’s suit against a newspaper raises questions about the applicability of the fair report privilege and actual malice.