A new lawsuit filed Tuesday by publicist Stephanie Jones alleges that Justin Baldoni and his PR reps tried to smear Blake Lively. A publicist who previously represented Justin Baldoni says one of her former employees orchestrated a smear campaign against Blake Lively without the public relations firm's knowledge — and then stole Baldoni and other celebrities as clients. The lawsuit alleges that the goal was to "destroy" Lively, Baldoni's co-star in "It Ends With Us," to cover up Baldoni's own misconduct on set. Bryan Freedman, an attorney representing Baldini, Abel, Nathan, and their companies, previously called Lively's allegations "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious." She sent BI an email and text messages showing she submitted her resignation in July with plans to start her own public relations firm.

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Persons: Stephanie Jones, Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, Jones, Jennifer Abel, Abel, Melissa Nathan, Baldoni's, Nathan, Jeff Bezos, Tom Brady, Dwayne, Johnson, Lively, Baldoni —, —, Bryan Freedman, Freedman, Baldoni, Nathan didn't, Kristin Tahler, Steph, Quinn, Emmanuel, Jonesworks, it's, Blake Organizations: Baldoni, California Civil Rights Department, RWA Communications, Business Locations: Manhattan, Baldini, Jonesworks