Blake Lively’s Legal Battle Exposes Hollywood’s Crisis Management Machine and Celebrity Power Networks

The documents reveal that Baldoni’s team prepared “scenario planning” materials that specifically targeted Swift’s public persona, suggesting they would characterize her advocacy as manipulative tactics used to “bully” people “into getting what they want.” This strategy represents a particularly cynical approach to crisis management – attempting to weaponize feminism discourse against one of its most visible advocates.

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.