Megan Twohey

But yeah, at the time they agreed and filming continued.

But yeah, at the time they agreed and filming continued.

Well, you know, that's interesting. Lively says that when they return to work, Baldoni's behavior improved with these new protections in place.

Well, you know, that's interesting. Lively says that when they return to work, Baldoni's behavior improved with these new protections in place.

Yeah, I mean, I think that by her account, this was like a situation of problem identified, problem solved, everybody moves on. But while she doesn't have any other allegations of misconduct, once they come back to finish making the movie, they do end up having major creative differences. What do you mean? So Baldoni does an edit of the movie one way. But Lively did her own edit.

Yeah, I mean, I think that by her account, this was like a situation of problem identified, problem solved, everybody moves on. But while she doesn't have any other allegations of misconduct, once they come back to finish making the movie, they do end up having major creative differences. What do you mean? So Baldoni does an edit of the movie one way. But Lively did her own edit.

And in the end, Sony, the distributor of the film, supports her version. And as the premiere approaches, the public starts to pick up on indications that there had been some drama behind the scenes. You know, Lively and some other cast members had unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram. Fans wondered, like, why was that? Then Lively, the cast, and Hoover did not do any appearances alongside Baldoni.

And in the end, Sony, the distributor of the film, supports her version. And as the premiere approaches, the public starts to pick up on indications that there had been some drama behind the scenes. You know, Lively and some other cast members had unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram. Fans wondered, like, why was that? Then Lively, the cast, and Hoover did not do any appearances alongside Baldoni.

And it seemed increasingly apparent that something had gone wrong.

And it seemed increasingly apparent that something had gone wrong.

Yes. And as speculation grows and people start asking more and more questions, according to the text messages, Baldoni is getting more and more worried. He's concerned that the allegations that Lively had made against him during the filming of the movie could now become public.

Yes. And as speculation grows and people start asking more and more questions, according to the text messages, Baldoni is getting more and more worried. He's concerned that the allegations that Lively had made against him during the filming of the movie could now become public.

So by the first week of August, he makes a move. He hires a crisis PR firm.

So by the first week of August, he makes a move. He hires a crisis PR firm.

Right. And in this case, he hired a PR firm led by a woman named Melissa Nathan. And she's worked with a variety of high-profile clients, including Johnny Depp, who was accused of physical abuse, as you may recall, by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Yep. And Nathan, as soon as she comes on, presents Baldoni with an initial strategic plan that

Right. And in this case, he hired a PR firm led by a woman named Melissa Nathan. And she's worked with a variety of high-profile clients, including Johnny Depp, who was accused of physical abuse, as you may recall, by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Yep. And Nathan, as soon as she comes on, presents Baldoni with an initial strategic plan that

That included back-channeling with journalists to try to push positive messaging about him and defend against any negative stories that might arise. But the text messages included in Lively's complaint, which we reviewed, suggest that Baldoni wanted to go further.

That included back-channeling with journalists to try to push positive messaging about him and defend against any negative stories that might arise. But the text messages included in Lively's complaint, which we reviewed, suggest that Baldoni wanted to go further.

Sure. So Baldoni wrote in a text message to a publicist, not in love with the document they sent. Not sure I'm feeling the protection I felt on the call. And after receiving that message, the publicist texted Nathan, saying, I think you guys need to be tough and show the strength of what you guys can do in these scenarios. He wants to feel like she, meaning Lively, can be buried.

Sure. So Baldoni wrote in a text message to a publicist, not in love with the document they sent. Not sure I'm feeling the protection I felt on the call. And after receiving that message, the publicist texted Nathan, saying, I think you guys need to be tough and show the strength of what you guys can do in these scenarios. He wants to feel like she, meaning Lively, can be buried.