Harvey Weinstein supports Justin Baldoni in legal feud with Blake Lively

Washington [US]April 10 (Ani): Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein publicly expressed support for actor director Justin Baldoni in his ongoing legal battle with Blake Live and The New York Times. Weinstein, who is currently serving a imprisonment for multiple convictions in sexual crime, told TMZ that he felt a feeling of ‘Deja Vu’ unfolding to Baldoni’s USD 250 million defamation by times. He claimed that in both cases the newspaper manipulated evidence to match a predetermined narrative. The controversy stems from a New York Times investigation in December 2024 entitled “We Can Can Bury Every”, setting out the alleged efforts of Baldoni’s PR team to lubricate alive during a dispute. According to page six, the article quoted text messages that apparently made a deliberate attempt to discredit the actor. Baldoni, who ‘ends up with us’, and his team has since submitted a defamation case in which he claims that the messages were misrepresented, ‘cherries selected’ and stripped of context. Weinstein said the situation reminds him of the 2017 case that also catalyzed the ‘#MeToo’ movement. Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault or rape. “If Justin Baldoni looks at legal action … hit me hard,” Weinstein told TMZ, adding, “they did the same thing to me-with the right choice that fit their story and ignored the rest.” Weinstein’s original conviction in New York was overturned in 2024, with a rehearsal scheduled for April 15. He is also called on a separate 16 -year sentence issued in California on sexual assault charges. Weinstein added: ‘I should have had the courage to speak at the time. The failure still haunts me, ‘as cited by page six. Meanwhile, the New York Times has defended its reporting. Spokesman Danielle Rhoades said their investigation into Weinstein’s misconduct was “strictly reported over many months,” and added that the facts remained unbearing and that Weinstein himself did wrong at the time, according to page six. The legal dispute involving Lively and Baldoni is making headlines, especially with Publisist Leslie Sloane nominated as a co-defendant in Baldoni’s wider USD 400 million slander and extortion case. Sloane, who was reportedly once worked with Weinstein, denied any formal connection with him and asked her to be removed from the case and called the matter an attempt to “punish” someone who pronounces “. Lively, through legal filing, her statements maintain, and claim that Baldoni has set up an uncomfortable environment for several women. Baldoni denied any misconduct. Their case will be tried in March 2026. (Ani) first published: 10 Apr 2025, 03:33 IST