Blake Lively has enlisted a high-profile PR crisis manager as her legal dispute with “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni intensifies. Lively, who is both suing and being sued by Baldoni, has quietly brought in Nick Shapiro, the former deputy chief of staff at the CIA and senior advisor to former CIA Director John Brennan.
According to a member of Lively’s legal team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Shapiro was hired to advise on the legal communications strategy in connection with the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit currently unfolding in the Southern District of New York.
“The litigation team for Ms. Lively retained Mr. Shapiro to advise on the legal communications strategy for the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit occurring in the Southern District of New York,” the legal representative confirmed.
Legal Dispute Between Lively and Baldoni
The legal conflict between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024 when Lively filed a letter with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), accusing Baldoni of sexually harassing her during the 2023 production of the film. The letter also included allegations that Baldoni had waged a smear campaign against Lively in 2024, a claim that later became the focus of a New York Times report. The controversy sparked a back-and-forth legal battle involving more than a dozen individuals and companies.
In response, Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times on New Year’s Eve, claiming defamation. In retaliation, Lively filed her own lawsuit, accusing Baldoni and his associates of violating both federal and California state laws by retaliating against her for reporting the harassment and workplace safety concerns.
Baldoni, in turn, filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and other actions.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones, has filed her own lawsuit against the director and his crisis publicist, Melissa Nathan, accusing them of breach of contract. Jones, who parted ways with Baldoni’s public relations firm Abel in August 2024, provided Lively’s legal team with text messages that are central to the case. Lively’s attorneys claim they obtained the texts through a subpoena to Jonesworks, Jones’ PR firm. It is still unclear under what circumstances Jones was required to share correspondence involving Baldoni or Abel prior to the filing of any lawsuits.
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Meanwhile, Texas-based digital entrepreneur Jed Wallace has also entered the fray, filing a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Lively. Wallace claims that Lively’s allegations about his role in orchestrating a “digital army” to attack her online have caused significant reputational harm.
Shapiro’s Background and Controversy
Nick Shapiro, who founded the crisis communications firm 10th Avenue Consulting in 2015 after leaving government service, brings an extensive background in managing public relations during high-profile events. His experience includes handling the Obama administration’s response to major crises such as the H1N1 pandemic, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the Gulf oil spill, and the Boston Marathon bombing, as well as natural disasters like the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
While Shapiro’s experience in crisis management is vast, his involvement in Lively’s case raises eyebrows given the lack of political connections to the escalating legal issues between the actress and Baldoni. Additionally, Shapiro’s controversial past includes being one of the 51 former intelligence officials who signed a 2020 open letter claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop had the “classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” The letter later faced significant backlash, adding to the scrutiny of Shapiro’s public persona.
Crisis PR and Legal Battles
It’s not unusual for celebrities involved in legal battles to hire crisis PR professionals, and Lively is following this pattern as her case gains public attention. However, her legal team has been notably critical of Baldoni’s use of PR experts ahead of the film’s release. Prior to the film’s premiere on August 6, 2024, rumors circulated about a mysterious feud between Lively and Baldoni, which prevented the two from appearing together at promotional events. The lack of public appearances fueled speculation and media coverage of their strained relationship, adding to the tension surrounding the film.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, It Ends With Us, the Sony film produced and financed by Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, was a commercial success. The movie, which had a production budget of $25 million, went on to gross $351 million globally, making it one of the year’s most profitable films.
As the legal disputes between Lively and Baldoni continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how Shapiro’s involvement will influence the public narrative. His expertise in managing crises and shaping legal communications could play a key role in the outcome of this high-profile battle, which has already sparked significant media attention.
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Lively and Baldoni’s legal entanglements are far from over, and with Shapiro now advising Lively’s team, the public will likely see an intensification of the battle in both the courts and the media.
