‘As horrifying as it is destructive’: Amber Heard backs Blake Lively in Justin Baldoni lawsuit

Amber Heard has issued a statement after Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni.

The actress spoke out after it was revealed that Justin hired the same high profile PR crisis manager her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, used during his defamation trial against her.

In an exclusive statement to NBC News, Amber described the ordeal as “horrifying” and “destructive”.

Starring in the film adaptation of It Ends With Us earlier this year, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, on Friday 20th December.

The allegations against Justin include of claims “sexual harassment” and alleging that he started a campaign to “destroy” Blake’s reputation after a flurry of negative press surrounded her during the movie’s premiere. He has strenuously denied all the allegations.

Speaking to NBC News, Amber highlighted social media as being a catalyst in the ordeal. She said: “Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’”

Speaking about her own experience during the defamation trial against Johnny depp, she added: “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”

The New York Times has reported on messages said to have been sent between Justin and his PR group, The Agency Group PR. A crisis management expert is reported to have told him: “You know we can bury anyone.”

A staff member at The Agency Group has since denied claims of “negative press” and “social combat” plans against Blake, claiming social media turned against Blake Lively anyway without them orchestrating it.

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A statement posted online read: “What the cherry picked messages don’t include, although not shockingly as it doesn’t fit the narrative, is that there was no ‘smear’ implemented.

“No negative press was ever facilitated, no social combat plan, although we were prepared for it as it’s our job to be ready for our scenario, but we didn’t have to implement anything because the internet was doing the work for us.”

The complaint also highlighted how Justin had hired the same crisis manager previously hired by Johnny Depp during his public defamation trial against Amber Heard. Blake alleges that the agency had intentions to carry out a “retaliatory social manipulation campaign” against her during production of It Ends With Us.

Sony Pictures has since released a statement in support of Blake. it said: “We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film.

“We fully and firmly reiterate that support today. Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”

Colleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, also publicly shared her support for Blake in a statement on Instagram.

Sharing a statement written by Blake’s friends, she praised Blake’s “ability to refuse to sit down and ‘be buried'”, describing it as “nothing short of inspiring”.

Justin Baldoni and The Agency Group PR have been contact for comment.