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

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.”

This strategy reveals a sophisticated understanding of how entertainment journalism operates and demonstrates how crisis management firms can manipulate media narratives by providing “background information” designed to shift focus away from their clients.