The Viall Files - Episode E862: Blake Lively’s Complaint Against Justin Baldoni with Emily D. Baker
Release Date: December 31, 2024
Hosts: Nick Viall, Natalie Joy, and the Household
Introduction
In the season finale of The Viall Files, host Nick Viall teams up with co-host Natalie Joy and special guest Emily D. Baker to delve into one of the most explosive controversies of the year: Blake Lively’s complaint against Justin Baldoni. This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the allegations, the legal ramifications, and the broader implications for Hollywood’s workplace culture.
Personal Reflections and Show Highlights
Before diving into the main topic, Nick and Natalie share personal milestones and reflect on the past year for the podcast. They express gratitude for their listeners and highlight significant moments, including:
- Natalie Joy celebrating her marriage and the birth of her daughter, River.
- Emily D. Baker reminiscing about the show's growth, notable interviews with guests like Tom Sandoval and Denise Richards, and the anticipation for an even more exciting 2025.
Notable Quote:
Emily [01:45]: "It has been really great. I love what we built together. We got married. We had a baby. We've done some really cool things."
Vibes vs. Stats: A Quick Recap
The hosts briefly touch upon recent events in the NFL, including Beyoncé’s standout halftime performance and various team performances. This segment balances the episode before transitioning to the core discussion.
Main Topic: Blake Lively’s Complaint Against Justin Baldoni
Background of the Complaint
Blake Lively filed a detailed complaint against Justin Baldoni, CEO of his production company Wayfarer, alleging sexual harassment, workplace retaliation, and a series of inappropriate behaviors on set during the filming of the movie "It Ends With Us." The complaint includes numerous text messages, emails, and specific incidents that paint a troubling picture of the on-set environment.
Notable Quotes:
Nick [09:52]: "Blake Lively filed a complaint talking about Justin's behavior on set along with some of his other people who run the company."
Key Allegations
The complaint outlines a 30-point list of inappropriate actions by Justin Baldoni and his business partner Jamie Heath, including:
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Invasion of Privacy: Displaying nude videos and images of his wife to Blake and her employees without consent.
Emily [14:22]: "Justin Baldoni is showing Blake Lively and her employees nude images, nude videos of his wife."
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Unwanted Personal Discussions: Bringing up topics like pornography addiction and personal sexual experiences in professional settings.
Natalie [14:22]: "No more discussions to Blake Lively and or her employees about personal experiences with sex."
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Physical Inappropriate Behavior: Touching Blake in ways unrelated to the script, including unsolicited caresses and comments.
Emily [31:32]: "Mr. Baldoni was caressing Ms. Lively with his mouth in a way that had nothing to do with their roles."
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Lack of Professional Boundaries: Insisting on filming nude scenes without proper consent, intimacy coordinators, or closed sets.
Emily [16:04]: "Blake Lively must be provided with immediate notice as soon as Wayfair or any other producers become aware of such exposure."
Legal Insights with Emily D. Baker
Emily D. Baker, a former deputy district attorney, breaks down the legal aspects of the complaint:
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Filing the Complaint: Blake's action is a civil rights complaint filed with the California Department of Civil Rights, a necessary precursor to any potential lawsuit.
Nick [43:13]: "This is a necessary first step, people. It's a necessary first step before you can bring a complaint for workplace harassment."
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Retaliation Claims: The central legal claim revolves around retaliation for Blake raising concerns with HR, leading to a tarnished reputation and career obstacles.
Nick [54:55]: "Blake Lively is alleging she brought up issues in the workplace, and then she was the one punished for it, but in a very Hollywood blacklisty kind of way."
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Evidence and Discovery: The complaint includes seized text messages and emails, many obtained through subpoenas and workplace investigations.
Nick [74:50]: "They would have had not only extensive conversations with her about how invasive this process will be."
Notable Quotes:
Emily [44:44]: "This is really at the heart of a retaliation lawsuit where Blake Lively went to HR, had HR meetings and said, hey, it's not okay with me..."
Emily [51:45]: "Employment litigation is incredibly interesting in California. It's very employee-friendly."
Media and PR Tactics
The discussion highlights Justin Baldoni's strategic use of PR to counteract the allegations:
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Weaponizing Information: Justin and his team orchestrated a PR campaign to smear Blake’s reputation by highlighting negative aspects from her past and planting narratives that undermine her credibility.
Natalie [24:15]: "Justin's team used domestic violence survivor content to protect his public image, as described in further detail below."
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Hired Publicists: The complaint reveals that Justin employed crisis PR professionals who actively worked to defame Blake through social media manipulation and biased media coverage.
Nick [09:52]: "It really comes down to... publicists involved, the media itself involved in kind of how complicit they were."
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Manipulating Public Sentiment: Using tactics like creating viral content and orchestrating online conversations to sway public opinion against Blake.
Emily [28:11]: "The playbook is to, you know, put out this information, have these blogs, these threads start, start creating the conversation through these bots."
Notable Quotes:
Natalie [30:06]: "They retained a contractor named Jed Wallace, who weaponized a digital army to create seed and promote content that appeared to be authentic."
Emily [30:17]: "Melissa Nathan says he doesn't realize how lucky he is right now. We need to press on him just how lucky."
Impact and Implications
The episode explores the broader implications of the complaint:
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Exposure of Hollywood's Dark Side: The allegations shed light on the rampant issues of workplace harassment and the lengths to which individuals and companies go to protect reputations.
Nick [20:03]: "It was a jaw-dropping complaint of things that you just, you'll be shocked is out there."
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Judicial Process Insights: Emily explains the adversarial nature of civil litigation in California, the mandatory steps before filing a lawsuit, and the mutual discovery process that exposes both parties' information.
Nick [70:01]: "The discovery goes both ways. Not just what was going on for Justin Baldoni and... her as well."
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Public Perception and Accountability: The hosts emphasize the importance of critical thinking and not rushing to judgment based on superficial impressions or biased media narratives.
Emily [95:38]: "We have to be more discerning as consumers in terms of what we believe and not believe."
Notable Quotes:
Natalie [112:37]: "Everything was in text messages. And I don't... people are going to say the text messages are altered."
Emily [96:00]: "As consumers of pop culture and media in general... we have to stop jumping to picking a side right off the bat."
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
As the episode wraps up, Nick and Natalie reflect on the bravery of Blake Lively in coming forward and the challenging road ahead as the complaints potentially lead to lawsuits. They urge listeners to read the complaint themselves, engaging critically with the information presented.
Notable Quote:
Natalie [119:57]: "It's black and white. This is a bad guy. This is a bad person who's done some bad things to a lot of people."
The hosts also hint at exciting developments for The Viall Files in 2025, promising more insightful discussions and updates on high-profile legal cases.
Key Takeaways
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Blake Lively’s Complaint: A comprehensive allegation against Justin Baldoni and his team, detailing inappropriate behavior and retaliation in the workplace.
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Legal Process: Understanding the steps from filing a civil rights complaint to potential lawsuits and the intricacies of California’s employee-friendly laws.
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Media’s Role: The strategic manipulation of public perception through PR campaigns and biased media coverage highlights the challenges victims face in being believed.
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Consumer Responsibility: Emphasizes the need for critical engagement with media, encouraging listeners to seek the full story rather than relying on sensational headlines.
For a detailed understanding of the allegations and legal perspectives, listeners are encouraged to read the full complaint linked in the episode description.