Film Industry
Weinstein Backs Baldoni in Legal Dispute
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer serving prison sentences for sexual assault convictions, has publicly voiced support for actor-director Justin Baldoni in his ongoing $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and actress Blake Lively. Weinstein, currently incarcerated at New York’s Rikers Island ahead of a retrial for his overturned 2020 conviction, drew parallels between Baldoni’s case and his own 2017 media exposé, claiming The Times “cherry-picked” evidence to fit predetermined narratives in both instances.
The Allegations
The dispute stems from a December 2024 Times article titled “We Can Bury Anyone,” which detailed alleged efforts by Baldoni’s PR team to discredit Lively during a conflict over the film It Ends With Us, which Baldoni directed. The report cited text messages suggesting a coordinated smear campaign, which Baldoni claims were misrepresented and stripped of context. In his lawsuit, Baldoni accuses the publication of colluding with Lively to publish a “false and defamatory narrative” as a “vehicle for her vengeance”.
Legal Developments
A March 2025 court ruling signaled potential dismissal of The Times from the case, with U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman stating the publication presented “substantial grounds” for dismissal and a “strong likelihood” of prevailing on First Amendment grounds. Despite this, Baldoni expanded his lawsuit to $400 million, naming Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist as co-defendants, alleging extortion and retaliatory tactics.
Weinstein’s Role
Weinstein, whose 2017 Times exposé catalyzed the #MeToo movement, told TMZ that Baldoni’s legal action “hit me hard,” likening it to his own experience of “selective” reporting. He added, “I should have stood up and fought back then. That regret still haunts me”. The Times defended its reporting, stating its Weinstein coverage was “rigorously reported” and based on documented evidence, while emphasizing Weinstein’s past admissions of misconduct.
Counterclaims
Lively has countersued Baldoni, accusing him of fostering an uncomfortable environment for women on set and engaging in retaliatory behavior. Her legal team denies the allegations of collusion, calling Baldoni’s lawsuit a “punitive” attempt to silence critics.
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