In a dramatic turn of events, actor and director Justin Baldoni is gearing up to sue his co-star Blake Lively after she accused him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. This shocking news, confirmed by Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has sent ripples through the entertainment industry.

While specifics about the impending lawsuit remain under wraps, Freedman indicated his readiness to publicize numerous text messages that he claims will illustrate his client’s innocence. “I am more than willing to take every single text message that exists out there, lay them out, put them on a website for the world to see, and let them determine the truth for themselves,” Freedman declared in a recent interview—raising questions about the potential fallout from this very public dispute.

The controversy stems from the film *It Ends with Us*, in which both Baldoni and Lively starred. On December 20, Lively filed a complaint with California’s civil rights department, alleging that Baldoni, who directed the film, his production company, and public relations team fostered a toxic work environment. Among her accusations were allegations of Baldoni entering her dressing room while she was breastfeeding and making inappropriate comments about her weight.

On December 22, just two days later, the *New York Times* reported on Lively's allegations, detailing the harassment she purportedly faced and an alleged effort by Baldoni and his associates to discredit her. In a rapid response, Baldoni vehemently denied the claims and initiated a $250 million libel lawsuit against the *New York Times*, claiming the publication succumbed to Lively and her movie-star husband, Ryan Reynolds.

Not to be outdone in this escalating legal drama, Lively filed a federal lawsuit on the same day against Baldoni, his production team, and additional parties. She alleges harassment and describes a “carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her and others from speaking out.”

Despite the chaos surrounding these allegations, Freedman insisted that Baldoni never intended to cause harm to Lively. “Justin Baldoni, from the get-go, said: ‘I don’t want to do anything negative toward her, I don’t want to hurt her,’” Freedman stated. However, he acknowledged that “there’s always some behavior that can make people uncomfortable,” questioning whether the actions in question amount to sexual harassment.

As this unsettling saga unfolds, it shines a spotlight on broader issues of workplace conduct and the complexities of public accusations in Hollywood, leaving fans and industry insiders alike eager for resolution. Stay tuned as this high-profile legal battle develops!