Blake Lively’s Publicist Denies Allegations of Planting Stories During “It Ends with Us” Press Tour: ‘False’

Blake Lively's publicist Leslie Sloane is speaking out after Justin Baldoni’s attorney shared his plans to launch a counter-lawsuit that will include allegations that Sloane planted stories in the press.

Following Lively's explosive complaint — which accused Baldoni, 40, of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends with Us and a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign — the actor's attorney Bryan Freedman revealed that he is preparing to file a counter-lawsuit that he says will “shock everyone,” according to the Daily Mail. The outlet reported that Freedman intends to file as soon as the courts reopen in 2025.

Lively's publicist is now pushing back at one of the reported claims in the impending suit.

According to the Daily Mail's report, Baldoni’s counter-lawsuit will claim that the subpoenaed messages included in Lively’s complaint were presented out of context, and allege that Lively's filing was a ploy to rebuild her image following the negative press she received during the It Ends with Us press tour.

Related: All of the Stars Who Have Publicly Supported Blake Lively Amid Her Sexual Harassment Complaint Against It Ends with Us Costar Justin Baldoni

The British outlet also reported that Baldoni’s countersuit will contain specific claims about Lively’s PR team, led by Sloane, allegedly claiming that Sloane planted stories to paint the actor-director in a bad light and led a smear campaign against him — not the other way around, as Lively’s complaint alleges.

Sloane denies these claims. She says she did not originate any stories about HR complaints on the set of the adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel, and was actually informed that the press had learned of them through a relative of a member of Baldoni’s PR team.

Related: Blake Lively and Legal Team Have Been Prepping Justin Baldoni Legal Action for 'Months': 'So Ugly for Her' (Exclusive)

"I was contacted on 8/11 by Sara Nathan (Melissa Nathan’s sister) forwarding an anonymous tip that Page Six received, regarding allegations of HR complaints on the set of It Ends with Us,” the publicist told PEOPLE in a statement. (Baldoni's crisis rep Melissa Nathan was named in Lively’s complaint and accused of participating in the alleged effort to tarnish the Gossip Girl alum’s reputation earlier this year.)

“After that, I was contacted by various press outlets asking about allegations of HR complaints,” Sloane continued. “When contacted, I responded to press questions by referring them to Wayfarer or Sony for information regarding HR complaints.”

“It’s clear that Mr. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Associates are suggesting that I originated press stories about HR complaints on set, which is false,” the publicist continued, before urging people to read both Lively’s complaint and the complaint filed by Jonesworks LLC and Stephanie Jones (the latter who formerly employed Baldoni's publicist Jennifer Abel), “which provides the details of the campaign against my client.”

Baldoni’s lawyer confirmed to Deadline on Dec. 28 that plans to follow a countersuit are in the works.

“I am not going to speak to when or how many lawsuits we are filing but when we file our first lawsuit, it is going to shock everyone who has been manipulated into believing a demonstrably false narrative,” Freedman said in a statement to Deadline.

“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 intentionally fueled through media manipulation.”

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Lively, 37, sued Baldoni on Dec. 20, claiming in an 80-page complaint that after she reported sexual harassment on the set of It Ends with Us, the actor-director retaliated against her by orchestrating orchestrated a smear campaign to tarnish her image.

In the complaint, which comes months after rumors of a feud between the costars swirled, the actress outlines dozens of allegations against Baldoni (who starred in, produced and directed the movie), members of the film’s production team and the individuals said to be involved in the alleged smear campaign against her.

Related: Blake Lively's Sexual Harassment Complaint: Legal Expert Breaks Down What's Next in the 'Intensely Personal' Case (Exclusive)

The complaint includes allegations that Baldoni “improvised” kisses and other physically intimate moments in the movie, attempted to add “gratuitous sexual content,” made inappropriate sexual comments and, along with another named producer, displayed a “shocking lack of boundaries” by entering the actress’ trailer “uninvited” while she was undressed.

The complaint also alleges that ahead of It Ends with Us' August premiere, Baldoni, fearing that Lively would go public with her negative on-set experiences, enlisted a team to “bolster” his credibility and “eviscerate” his costar’s reputation.

Freedman told PEOPLE in a statement that Lively's complaint was to "fix her negative reputation." He also said that her allegations are "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt."

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