Who owns New York Times? Justin Baldoni sues publication for $250 million over Blake Lively report

Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards - Source: Getty
Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards - Source: Getty

In a recent controversy, Justin Baldoni, actor and filmmaker, is now suing the New York Times for $250 million, accusing it of defaming him in an article involving actress Blake Lively.

The New York Times, which has been around since 1851, is a prominent publication known for investigative journalism and cultural coverage. The newspaper has earned its reputation for providing reliable news across multiple sectors (Britannica).

The New York Times Company has been owned by the Sulzberger family since 1896. The company has been in the hands of the Ochs-Sulzberger family for many years. A.G. Sulzberger is the current chairman and publisher of the company.

The New York Times newspaper, website, and app, including Wirecutter, The Athletic, New York Times Cooking, and New York Times Games, are all part of The New York Times Company. The company makes money mainly on subscriptions and advertising (New York Times).

Beyond its core operations, The Times both publishes and sells a range of magazines and special editions, including The New York Times International Edition and The NYT Book Review.

The New York Times has attracted criticism and legal challenges most recently in a lawsuit by Justin Baldoni. Baldoni, who is best known as an actor in Jane the Virgin and as a filmmaker, has accused an article by the NYT of misrepresenting him with regards to a controversy surrounding Blake Lively.

Baldoni claims the report included false information that he says harmed his reputation and caused emotional and professional distress. Therefore he is now suing the company for $250 million.

More about Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit against the New York Times

Justin Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit is based on an article published on December 21, 2023, that painted Justin Baldoni’s interactions with actress Blake Lively in a bad light Baldoni denied the claim, saying he had never barged into Lively’s makeup trailer while she was naked.

Baldoni’s attorneys argue that the Times based its report on an edited and manipulated narrative provided by Lively and that the article cited text messages that were taken out of context or selectively edited.

According to the suit, Blake Lively launched a smear campaign against Baldoni and used fabricated claims of sexual harassment during the shooting of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s team notes discrepancies in the Times’ reporting, citing missing texts that contradicted Lively’s statements (Variety).

"It Ends With Us" New York Premiere - Source: Getty
"It Ends With Us" New York Premiere - Source: Getty

Justin Baldoni’s team has also refuted allegations of sexual harassment, including one that involved a video shown by producer Jamey Heath. The video, which the Times characterized as pornography, was stated by Baldoni’s lawyer as a personal, non-sexual video.

Additionally, the suit claims that Lively’s team used PR tactics to place negative stories about Baldoni, including made-up stories about his religion and HR complaints during the production of the movie It Ends With Us.

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Edited by Zainab Shaikh