The holiday season is turning quite dismal for Justin Baldoni as fresh allegations of a smear campaign tied to his film "It Ends With Us" emerge. With Blake Lively reportedly at the center of these claims, Baldoni's reputation is already hanging by a thread, facing accusations of sexual harassment and retaliatory tactics.

As Hollywood figures distance themselves from Baldoni, he has been formally slapped with a defamation lawsuit from Stephanie Jones, the founder of his former public relations agency. The lawsuit, filed just before Christmas, accuses Baldoni, along with his Wayfarer Studios and his publicists, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, of conspiring against Jones and her company, Jonesworks. It alleges defamation, breach of contract, and other claims, stating that Abel and Nathan engaged in a secretive campaign to undermine Jones, breaching multiple contracts in the process.

The lawsuit claims that Baldoni, through Abel and Nathan, orchestrated a media smear against Blake Lively, attempting to divide Jones from Baldoni while falsely implicating Jones in the controversy. This messy saga took an unexpected turn when Abel left Jonesworks to start her own PR firm, RWA Communications, amidst these allegations.

While Abel formerly stated that Jones was aware of the smear campaign, Jones firmly denies any involvement. Furthermore, the lawsuit reveals incriminating messages exchanged between Abel and Nathan that were discovered during the investigation. In one particularly harsh text, Abel criticized Baldoni, calling him “pompous” and claiming “nobody gives a shit how hard your life is.” Such revelations have painted a picture of a fractured professional relationship characterized by betrayal and backstabbing.

Jones's lawsuit seeks various damages and aims to reestablish her reputation tarnished by these accusations. Still, the unfolding drama around "It Ends With Us" continues to grow. Lively has received significant support from other A-listers for her courage in speaking out about the alleged harassment, while Baldoni finds himself sidelined by the industry. He was recently dropped by his agency, WME, showing a notable shift in industry sentiment.

As the legal battle heats up, insiders suggest that Jones's lawsuit may be part of a broader strategy to combat Abel’s claims and distance herself from the ongoing "It Ends With Us" scandal. This lawsuit is just the tip of the iceberg, as a counter-complaint from Blake Lively is also expected soon, signaling that the fallout from these allegations is far from over.

In a world where reputations can be shattered overnight, this situation exemplifies how quickly the tide can turn in Hollywood. Stay tuned for more developments on this highly publicized feud as both parties prepare for what promises to be a monumental legal showdown.