Megan Twohey

So after Lively filed her legal complaint against Baldoni and our story came out, there was an outpouring of support for her. But since that time, Baldoni has gone on the offensive. He is being represented by a well-known Hollywood lawyer named Brian Friedman, who has been very aggressive in defending his client. He has attacked Lively.

So after Lively filed her legal complaint against Baldoni and our story came out, there was an outpouring of support for her. But since that time, Baldoni has gone on the offensive. He is being represented by a well-known Hollywood lawyer named Brian Friedman, who has been very aggressive in defending his client. He has attacked Lively.

and the New York Times in multiple press interviews and has released a flood of information that he says proves that Baldoni is the real victim here. Last week, for example, a scene was leaked from filming of the movie, and it was a scene where Baldoni and Lively were dancing together and talking, and Lively said that his behavior in this moment was an example of him being inappropriate.

and the New York Times in multiple press interviews and has released a flood of information that he says proves that Baldoni is the real victim here. Last week, for example, a scene was leaked from filming of the movie, and it was a scene where Baldoni and Lively were dancing together and talking, and Lively said that his behavior in this moment was an example of him being inappropriate.

Baldoni's team said that it shows he did nothing wrong.

Baldoni's team said that it shows he did nothing wrong.

Yeah, and all of this, the video, the interviews, is getting nonstop coverage in the tabloids and entertainment publications, and it's being sliced and diced and spread on social media. And... As I've watched all this unfold, I keep thinking of an exchange that was actually cited in Lively's legal complaint between two of Baldoni's publicists as they were working on their campaign last summer.

Yeah, and all of this, the video, the interviews, is getting nonstop coverage in the tabloids and entertainment publications, and it's being sliced and diced and spread on social media. And... As I've watched all this unfold, I keep thinking of an exchange that was actually cited in Lively's legal complaint between two of Baldoni's publicists as they were working on their campaign last summer.

One of the publicists wrote, quote, so are we in the clear now? Did we survive? And Melissa Nathan responded, we survived. All press is so overwhelming. We've confused people. So much mixed messaging. It's actually really funny if you think about it.

One of the publicists wrote, quote, so are we in the clear now? Did we survive? And Melissa Nathan responded, we survived. All press is so overwhelming. We've confused people. So much mixed messaging. It's actually really funny if you think about it.

What does that tell you? Well, Natalie, you are obviously not the only one confused. And it seems like, at least according to these messages that were cited in her legal complaint, the mixing of messages confusing people, that was the goal.

What does that tell you? Well, Natalie, you are obviously not the only one confused. And it seems like, at least according to these messages that were cited in her legal complaint, the mixing of messages confusing people, that was the goal.

You know, when our story was published, I got a ton of response from people saying how eye-opening this was, even among people in Hollywood who say they had never seen anything like this before.

You know, when our story was published, I got a ton of response from people saying how eye-opening this was, even among people in Hollywood who say they had never seen anything like this before.

And I think the fact that this kind of thing is happening or can happen, the kind of campaign that liveliest complaint and these text messages purport to show, speaks to what might be a next phase in claims of harassment or misconduct. How so? Yeah.

And I think the fact that this kind of thing is happening or can happen, the kind of campaign that liveliest complaint and these text messages purport to show, speaks to what might be a next phase in claims of harassment or misconduct. How so? Yeah.

Well, over the years, we've seen what these allegations can mean for someone's reputation, for someone's career, like how utterly damaging they can be. And now we are also seeing the lengths that people will go to protect their reputations and their livelihoods and the new tools that are available to them.

Well, over the years, we've seen what these allegations can mean for someone's reputation, for someone's career, like how utterly damaging they can be. And now we are also seeing the lengths that people will go to protect their reputations and their livelihoods and the new tools that are available to them.

Right. And this is really only a glimpse behind the curtain. There's a lot more for us to look into and try to figure out about exactly how these tools work and who is using them. And, you know, I think it would actually be a mistake to think that this is limited, that these kind of strategies are limited just to like Hollywood or to Me Too.

Right. And this is really only a glimpse behind the curtain. There's a lot more for us to look into and try to figure out about exactly how these tools work and who is using them. And, you know, I think it would actually be a mistake to think that this is limited, that these kind of strategies are limited just to like Hollywood or to Me Too.