Norwegian Journalist Denies Involvement in Alleged Justin Baldoni Smear Campaign
Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa vehemently denies any involvement in a smear campaign allegedly orchestrated by “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni against co-star Blake Lively.
The controversy erupted after The New York Times reported that Lively was suing Baldoni for sexual harassment, alleging he and his crisis PR team were planning to tarnish her reputation. The exposé included purported text messages where Baldoni’s team allegedly promised they could “bury anyone.”
Flaa’s Defiance:
In a strongly worded Instagram video posted on Sunday, Flaa refuted the claims, stating, “I have nothing to do with Justin Baldoni and his smear campaign against Blake Lively that was reported on by The New York Times today.” She further elaborated, “I have nothing to do with Justin Baldoni’s PR team. None of this is true.”
Flaa expressed her dismay over being implicated in the alleged campaign, highlighting that she was “as shocked” by the revelations in the lawsuit as anyone else. “I would never take part in anything like that. That’s such an insult to me,” she stated in the video.
Adding to the backlash, Flaa also addressed her past support for Johnny Depp during the highly publicized defamation trial against Amber Heard, claiming it stemmed solely from her admiration for Depp and her belief in his court testimony.
However, Flaa’s YouTube video further discusses the incident and adds her perspective on being dragged into the narrative. She claimed that she had no awareness of the backlash against Lively when she recirculated a prior interview with the actress.
In her statement, Flaa reaffirms her commitment to journalistic integrity and insists that she would “never accept money to jeopardize [her] integrity.” She maintains that she has no connection to Baldoni or his PR team.
The Fallout:
The controversy has cast a shadow on the success of “It Ends With Us,” which earned $350 million at the worldwide box office. Allegations of a toxic on-set environment, coupled with the ongoing legal battle, have made a sequel highly unlikely.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, has labeled Lively’s complaint “shameful” and characterized the accusations as “categorically false.” Meanwhile, Flaa insists on her innocence and continues to insist that she has no connection to Baldoni or his team.
Stay Updated:
This is a developing story. Follow us for the latest updates and analysis on the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni saga.