Amid a heated legal dispute, a Texas-based PR firm has filed a defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively. The firm, owned by Jed Wallace, claims the actress libeled him by alleging he produced “artificial content” on social media to discredit her during her ongoing legal battles.
Here are the key details surrounding the lawsuit against Lively and its implications in her conflict with Justin Baldoni.
Why Was Blake Lively Sued by PR Firm?
Jed Wallace has escalated the situation by suing Lively after she named his PR firm, Street Relations, in her lawsuit against Baldoni. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Texas on February 4.
Wallace’s legal complaint alleges Lively inaccurately cited his firm in her accusations against Baldoni, claiming he orchestrated fictitious content online to bolster his defense. He is seeking $7 million in damages and a court order to affirm that he and his firm had no role in any alleged harassment against Lively.
The lawsuit contends, “As Lively later acknowledged, she had no factual basis for the claims against Wallace or Street… Neither Wallace nor Street were involved in the supposed harassment, retaliation, or failure to investigate any issues. Additionally, no contractual relationship existed between Lively and these parties.”
This legal action follows Lively’s request for Wallace to be deposed in her dispute with Baldoni. In her filing, she accused Wallace’s firm of attempting to orchestrate a “digital army” against her. The petition claimed that Wallace’s firm had disseminated content that appeared credible, potentially skewing public opinion against Lively.
Lively’s lawsuit further alleged that Wallace’s efforts involved manipulating online platforms to attack her image while promoting Baldoni. In response, her attorney criticized the recent lawsuit, asserting it was an attempt to silence Lively for speaking out against sexual harassment and retaliation. He characterized the lawsuit as “transparent retaliation” in response to Lively’s allegations with the California Civil Rights Department.
