Hang-outs and Headlines

Welcome to Hang-Outs and Headlines! The media suggests and shapes our understanding of the news items that fill our days (and our social media timelines) – sometimes fairly and sometimes quite unfairly.

Hollywood PR War: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and the Headlines That Shape Narratives

Feb 24, 2025 • 196 mins

In this episode, lawyer Richard Hoeg explores the legal and media intricacies surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, sparked (again) by The Hollywood Reporter's recent coverage. The episode discusses social media's emotional toll on Lively, Ryan Reynolds' involvement, and comments by Ari Emanuel, highlighting ongoing legal and PR battles. The discussion touches on 'cultural misunderstandings', the Baha'i faith's impact on Baldoni, and the (amended) allegations of Ms. Lively regarding sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, retaliation, and more. Hoeg also examines power dynamics in Hollywood stardom, and the complexities of legal claims for the unique craft of movie-making, culminating in insights into public relations, law, and ethical considerations in the entertainment industry. SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/VirtualLegality STORE - https://virtuallegalityshop.myshopify.com/

Key Points

The Hollywood Reporter's package of articles on the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni frames the dispute as a complex public relations war, illustrating the clash of personalities and the role of religion and PR strategies in shaping public perception.
Blake Lively's amended complaint against Justin Baldoni and his associates introduces new allegations and two additional unnamed female cast members who reportedly experienced similar discomfort and harassment, although the complaint's reliance on unnamed sources and lack of direct evidence may weaken its legal standing.
The legal battle has significantly impacted Hollywood's publicity practices, with publicists now more cautious about their strategies and communications, fearing legal repercussions and the potential for lawsuits, as highlighted by industry insiders.

LINKS

COVER https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/blake-lively-slams-sexist-cover-depicting-her-and-justin-baldoni/

ARI https://people.com/blake-lively-and-ryan-reynolds-good-people-says-agency-head-who-fired-justin-baldoni-11679982

THR https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/justin-baldoni-bahai-blake-lively-legal-feud-1236142565/ https://x.com/justplainzack/status/1893810232196792446 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/justin-baldoni-attorney-bryan-freedman-cant-lose-1236142321/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-publicity-pr-changes-1236141364/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/timeline-justin-baldoni-blake-lively-it-ends-with-us-legal-battle/production-halted-june-15-2023/

3.6 ORDER https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.50.0_2.pdf https://nysba.org/app/uploads/2022/05/Rules-of-Professional-Conduct-as-of-May-2022-1.pdf

AMENDED COMPLAINT https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.84.0.pdf

Speakers

Richard Hoeg

Host • 100%

Chapters

0:35	Introduction and episode overview
1:49	Hollywood Reporter's depiction of Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni
2:35	Controversy over the David and Goliath imagery and Blake Lively's response
4:12	Media coverage and social media reactions to the Hollywood Reporter cover
11:27	Justin Baldoni's agency departure and Ari Emanuel's comments
14:00	Overview and legal battle between Lively and Baldoni
18:41	Dive into The Hollywood Reporter's article and rumors about Baldoni and Hoover
20:59	Clarification on rights to "It Ends With Us"
22:23	Framing of the Lively vs. Baldoni feud and cultural misunderstandings
24:11	Analysis of Baldoni's communication and workplace behavior
27:15	Wayfarer Studios' principles and Baldoni's professional conduct influenced by Baha'i faith
32:23	Lively's concerns about casting and additional complaints from other actresses
37:22	Examination of the legal and PR battle's evolution
44:55	The Hollywood Reporter’s technical glitch and the Jenny Slate story
46:23	Detailed analysis of article revisions, legal implications, and portrayal of Baldoni's lawyer
1:00:00	Impact of the case on Hollywood publicity and changes in publicist practices
1:05:13	Legal protections and ethical dilemmas in public relations
1:12:08	Brain break and community comments
1:17:15	Importance of balanced coverage and the Rashomon effect in the Baldoni-Lively case
1:22:07	Timeline of the conflict and creative tensions
1:25:06	Allegations of improvised physical intimacy and disputes over meetings
1:28:29	The Lively cut vs. the Baldoni cut and dueling premieres
1:31:39	Accusations of a smear campaign and the involvement of PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan
1:34:07	Rules of Conduct 3.6
1:43:15	The Amended Complaint - Overview
3:08:00	Conclusion and Final Comments

Transcript

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