Blake Lively hit with a $7 million defamation lawsuit from crisis management firm

Blake Lively is facing legal issues once more, this time due to a defamation lawsuit from a crisis management company. The lawsuit has been brought by Jed Wallace from Street Relations, who is alleged to be connected to the public relations dispute between Lively and Justin Baldoni, the director and actor of It Ends With Us.

Wallace alleges that Lively's actions are unfairly involving him in the current legal issues and has submitted a complaint in a Texas federal court. He is seeking a minimum of $7 million and a court ruling to exonerate him from any misconduct.

The conflict started when the Gossip Girl actress accused Wallace of assisting Baldoni's team in orchestrating a smear campaign against her on social media. She claims that he utilized digital platforms to generate false content that appeared to target her while simultaneously defending Baldoni.

This content was reportedly employed to sway public perception and generate negative media coverage. In response, Wallace refutes these claims, asserting that he has been wrongfully connected to Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. He contends that he was not involved in the alleged smear campaign and that the lawsuit is a retaliatory measure stemming from her public allegations.

The lawsuit comes after Lively recently filed in Texas state court, requesting an order to depose Wallace. This legal move could result in him being included as a defendant in her ongoing case against Justin Baldoni, the director of It Ends With Us, and his company, Wayfarer.

Another day, another state, another nine-figure lawsuit seeking to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ for speaking out against sexual harassment and retaliation

- Lively’s legal team

“This is not just a publicity stunt—it is transparent retaliation in response to allegations contained within a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint that Ms. Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department. While this lawsuit will be dismissed, we are pleased that Mr. Wallace has finally emerged from the shadows, and that he too will be held accountable in federal court," they added.