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PR specialist Katie Case's August 7, 2024 correspondence underscores the perceived threat level: "The social team are now worried about Blake activating the Taylor Swift fan base, which is a major concern." The fear was so pronounced that Baldoni's team reportedly increased their monthly fee to $30,000 due to elevated social media monitoring needs.

Ryan Reynolds: The Protective Husband Narrative

The lawsuit also details how Baldoni's team prepared to handle Ryan Reynolds, Lively's husband, whom they portrayed as an aggressive protector who had allegedly blocked Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios on Instagram. Text messages in the court records show Baldoni seeking assurance that his team had contingency plans should Lively follow suit.

"We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out," Baldoni wrote, revealing a mindset focused on potential retaliation rather than resolution.

In a particularly telling development, Baldoni's since-dismissed countersuit against Reynolds painted the "Deadpool" star as becoming "unhinged" during a meeting at the couple's home, where he allegedly "berated" and "aggressively" accused Baldoni of various offenses, including "fat-shaming" Lively. This narrative construction appears designed to portray Reynolds as an irrational, overprotective husband rather than someone responding to legitimate workplace concerns.

The Hailey Bieber Diversion Tactic

Among the most revealing aspects of the crisis management strategy was the apparent plan to deflect attention using Hailey Bieber's public controversies. Text messages show Baldoni sending screenshots of social media threads discussing "Hailey Bieber's history of bullying women," with the accompanying message: "This is what we would need."

This communication suggests a deliberate strategy to redirect harassment allegations toward other celebrities who had faced similar accusations, essentially creating a comparative framework designed to minimize Baldoni's alleged conduct.

Targeting Past Professional Relationships

The most comprehensive aspect of the crisis management strategy involved systematically cataloging Lively's previous working relationships with prominent actors. A "scenario planning" document specifically identified Ben Affleck ("The Town"), Leighton Meester ("Gossip Girl"), and Anna Kendrick ("A Simple Favor" and its sequel) as potential targets for redirected speculation.

The document's recommended approach was chillingly systematic: "provide reporters who reach out for comment, should it be obvious she's referring to you, with the appropriate background information... to ensure their stories are balanced and the speculation can be turned to another one of the many people she's had issues working with."