Leslie Sloane, the longtime publicist for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, 

has officially requested to be removed from the massive $400 million lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni last month. 

On Thursday, Sloane’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, submitted a motion in New York federal court, asking that both Sloane and her PR firm, 

Vision PR, be dismissed from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their representation.

Publicist Claims She Was Unfairly Dragged Into Legal Battle

Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that Sloane’s legal team argues 

she was unjustly pulled into the lawsuit as part of a “smoke and mirrors exercise” 

intended to divert attention from the allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation that Baldoni and his team face.

According to the filing, there is no legal foundation for the claim that Sloane was responsible for a “smear campaign” against Baldoni or that she planted damaging stories about him in the media. Furthermore, her attorneys contend that Baldoni’s legal team has not provided any specific evidence showing where or how the alleged extortion occurred or how Sloane personally benefited from it.

Lively’s Role in ‘It Ends With Us’ Criticized

McCawley also took aim at claims that Lively exerted excessive control over the creative direction of It Ends With Us, the upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel. Baldoni, who serves as both director and co-star, has accused Lively of overstepping her role as executive producer.

Sloane’s attorney strongly pushed back against these claims, calling them “irrelevant and tellingly sexist.”

“Because Ms. Lively—an executive producer on the film—dared to offer input on the script, wardrobe, and editing, Baldoni blasts her as ‘tyrannical’ and ‘aggressive,’ among other coded terms,” McCawley argued.

Allegations of Retaliation Against Lively

The legal dispute has become increasingly heated, with Lively accusing Baldoni of inappropriate behavior on set. In her amended complaint, Lively alleges that two actresses from the It Ends With Us cast also had uncomfortable encounters with Baldoni, adding further weight to her claims.

McCawley asserted that when Lively came forward with concerns about Baldoni’s alleged misconduct, he and his team attempted to discredit her by hiring a crisis PR expert who reportedly vowed to “bury” Lively and “destroy” her reputation.

“When Ms. Lively bravely spoke up about Baldoni’s predatory behavior, he and his team used every weapon in their arsenal to blame, embarrass, and silence her,” McCawley stated in court documents.

Baldoni’s Public Persona Contradicts Allegations, Says Sloane’s Lawyer

McCawley also called attention to what she described as the contradiction between Baldoni’s public advocacy for women’s rights and his actions behind the scenes.

“Baldoni has spent years profiting off the feminist and #MeToo movements, peddling books, podcasts, TED Talks, and more using slogans about believing survivors, ending victim blaming, and promoting informed consent,” McCawley wrote.

However, she argued that his conduct in this lawsuit demonstrates “sheer hypocrisy,” citing allegations of workplace harassment and efforts to silence those who spoke out.

McCawley further accused Baldoni of trying to minimize the issue by framing the legal battle as a dispute over creative control rather than one about sexual harassment and retaliation.

“The Wayfarer Parties’ allegations about Blake Lively boil down to: she was too ambitious, too outspoken, and she should have accepted Baldoni’s bizarre and abusive practices without complaint, no matter how uncomfortable they made her and other women on set,” McCawley stated.

Baldoni’s Team Pushes Back Against Claims

Despite the serious allegations, sources close to Baldoni have refuted the accusations, calling Lively’s claims baseless. A source told DailyMail.com that Lively’s amended complaint lacks substance.

“Blake is really clutching at straws,” the source said. “She was said to have these smoking guns, and she really has nothing. Her amended complaint is baseless.”

The insider further argued that there were no official complaints made about Baldoni’s behavior.

“Bottom line is this—Justin did not harass any other woman on set. There was not one single HR complaint made by any woman—Blake included. If he did, wouldn’t HR be the first place they would go?” the source added.

The source also directly named two actresses from the It Ends With Us cast—Isabela Ferrer and Jenny Slate—suggesting that neither had raised concerns about Baldoni’s conduct.

Sloane Requests Legal Fees Be Covered

In addition to her request to be removed from the lawsuit, Sloane is also seeking reimbursement for legal fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, which is designed to protect individuals from lawsuits that attempt to silence free speech.

McCawley emphasized that Sloane has maintained a “decades-long reputation for professionalism and trustworthiness” in Hollywood. She argued that the claims against her client have caused “irreparable professional damage and emotional harm.”

As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on Sloane’s request and whether additional revelations will emerge regarding the high-profile dispute between Lively, Baldoni, and their respective teams.

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