Kaitlin Olson has voiced her support for Blake Lively amid the actor's legal battle with It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the three-time Emmy nominee praised Lively as “a kind, lovely, honest and generous person (and an incredible mom),” while sharing a report detailing Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni.
Olson’s public show of solidarity adds to the growing wave of support for Lively. Olson’s husband, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney, shares a close connection with Lively’s family through his co-ownership of Wrexham A.F.C. alongside Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband.
Lively’s accusations claim that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, engaged in misconduct during the making of the domestic violence drama. She further alleges that, after she spoke up, Baldoni and his team initiated “a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.”
In a statement to Deadline, Lively explained her decision to pursue legal action: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
Baldoni, who has since been dropped by WME, has denied the accusations, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” according to his attorney Bryan Freedman. He asserts that the claims were made with the sole purpose of damaging his reputation.
Lively’s extensive 80-page complaint, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, accuses Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment that nearly derailed the film’s production. The complaint details an alleged “Astroturfing” smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni and his associates, designed to intimidate Lively and prevent further disclosures.
The document reportedly includes incriminating messages exchanged between Baldoni and Melissa Nathan, a crisis communications specialist from The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG).
Adding another layer to the controversy, Stephanie Jones, Baldoni’s former publicist and founder of Joneworks, has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and publicists Nathan and Jennifer Abel. Jones’s attorney claims Baldoni attempted to shift blame onto her for the smear campaign, despite her lack of involvement.
Reports suggest Baldoni is preparing to file a countersuit after the New Year, alleging that Lively manipulated the situation and took WhatsApp messages from his team out of context.
While Freedman did not confirm the countersuit directly, he hinted at upcoming legal action, stating, “When we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative. It will be supported by real evidence and tell the true story.”
He added, “In over 30 years of practicing, I have never seen this level of unethical behavior fueled by media manipulation. This reminds me of what NBC attempted with Megyn Kelly and Gabrielle Union. We all know how that ended. Stand by.”
