Emails and exhibits included in Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Justin Baldoni indicate that the director's purported strategy to undermine Lively involved references to Taylor Swift and Hailey Bieber. The communications seem to explore the possibility of utilizing the public's views of these celebrities to sway public sentiment against the Gossip Girl star amid the sexual harassment allegations that surfaced during the filming of It Ends With Us.

Taylor Swift mentioned in Baldoni’s crisis management plans

A legal complaint submitted on December 21 has unveiled Baldoni’s strategy for managing the crisis involving Blake Lively, disclosing some unexpected information. A document acquired by US Weekly from the lawsuit indicates that a crisis management expert on Baldoni’s team recognized the potential impact of Swift's extensive fanbase, suggesting it could be leveraged to amplify their reaction to Lively’s claims. The correspondence also highlighted that “the most significant crises often have little effect on social media,” while “seemingly trivial matters can escalate dramatically” due to online engagement.

An email purportedly sent on August 6 states, “We have observed that the most trivial issues can escalate significantly due to social media, while the largest crises may have no impact at all. At this point, it is difficult to predict. However, BL shares a portion of the same fanbase as TS, so we will approach this matter with utmost seriousness.”

Additionally, a second document from Baldoni's team addresses the potential for creating narratives regarding the exploitation of feminism. It notes that individuals, including Taylor Swift, have faced criticism for allegedly employing such strategies to manipulate circumstances to their advantage. “Our team can also investigate the possibility of disseminating stories about the weaponization of feminism and how figures like Taylor Swift have been accused of using these tactics to coerce others into achieving their objectives.” Lively and Swift have maintained a close friendship for many years.

Hailey Bieber name-dropped in Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit

Hailey Bieber was mentioned in the same crisis management strategy, as reported by Weekly. Text messages examined in connection with the legal complaint revealed that the director shared a screenshot of a conversation accusing Bieber of bullying women. He allegedly indicated that this could be used as a framework for their own strategies against Lively. Lively's lawsuit asserts that Baldoni's approach exceeded standard public relations practices. It claims that Melissa Nathan, a specialist in crisis communications, suggested a method referred to as "astroturfing."

What is astroturfing?

It is creating fake online comments or reviews that look like they come from ordinary people, but are actually created by a company or group to manipulate public opinion.

Justin Baldoni dropped from his talent agency

On Wednesday, Lively initiated a sexual harassment lawsuit against her co-star and lead producer, Jamey Heath, alleging serious misconduct. The accusations include "intrusive behavior on set, unwanted kissing, the display of pornographic materials, observing her in a state of undress, fostering a hostile work environment, orchestrating a smear campaign, and making inappropriate comments regarding her appearance."

Shortly thereafter, Baldoni's talent agency, WME, severed ties with the actor, as reported by Deadline. While the agency has not yet issued an official statement, it has been confirmed that it continues to represent the actress. Additionally, it has been noted that Justin Baldoni was removed from the talent agency following Blake Lively's sexual harassment allegations, with WME still representing her.

Read Also: Justin Baldoni Removed by Talent Agency Following Blake Lively's Harassment Lawsuit: WME Continues Representation…

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