What Can We Learn From Blake Lively? Lessons from a High-Profile Dispute

I don’t know about you, but I can’t seem to get enough of the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni dispute stemming from the “creative control” of the recently released movie, It Ends With Us (is it just me?? I’m living for this). 

What started out seemingly as standard movie production B.S., turned out to be legal disputes full of accusations of public relations smears, sexual harassment, and overall misconduct. If you haven’t been following the debacle, do yourself a favor and read Lively’s 93 (yes, that’s right, 93!) page complaint and try to unravel the messy machinations running Hollywood.

Now, this blog knows better than to take sides (we like to watch the disaster, no need to be a part of it) but there is quite a bit of fodder for us to explore.

So, what can we learn from this calamity of showbiz proportions?

Let’s dive into the legal complaint and why it’s a powerful tool:

• Introduction to Legal Complaints: The complaint (or petition) is typically the first document that is filed with the court to initiate a civil action lawsuit. The complaint lists the plaintiff’s (the one doing the suing) view of the facts.
• Public Record and First Amendment: Complaints, in almost all civil cases are public record, protected by the good ol’ First Amendment. This is an especially useful tool for getting one’s version of the story out there.
• Persuasive Writing by Lawyers: Good lawyers are good persuasive writers. We are able to convey emotion and a message while telling a story. A good writer has many words at their disposal (we’re logophiles) and can shape a reader’s perception of the story while also giving the facts.
• One-Sided Storytelling: The complaint can provide all kinds of information to tell a one-sided story of the events. The complaint technically should be limited to the relevant facts but can include hearsay and other VERY inadmissible and non-provable details. The facts alleged in the complaint may not be true and the legal claims may not be valid.
• Misconceptions about Complaints: Most folks don’t know that a complaint is just that, a complaint. It may look official, as it’s a legal pleading, but it’s just as accurate (or correct) as a “strongly worded letter” or demand letter.
• Media Trust and Self-Publishing: In an era of declining trust in media, the complaint offers individuals an excellent platform to self-publish public allegations without appearing self-indulgent. The dry (and unsexy) formalities of the complaint allow folks space to go into detail without seeming petty or tedious.
• Influence on Public Image: Legal complaints are taken more seriously by journalists and the public than a self-published blog or post on a social platform which are often treated with a healthy degree of skepticism. The complaint can give the plaintiff outcomes a jury (or judge) can’t provide in the form of shaping public image.

So, there you have it. We learn that the audience of a legal complaint can be both the court of law as well as the court of public opinion. A well-written complaint is a VERY powerful tool, especially when shaping a narrative. As to the Baldoni/Lively dispute, I can’t wait for the documentary to come out (and who will direct LOL)!!