‘It Ends With Us’ Actor and director and his publicists are suing The Times for libel

She claimed that as the film’s release approached in August 2024, fearing that her allegations would become public and tarnish them, Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath Ms. Nathan, a crisis PR expert, and then Mr. Wallace, to smear Mrs. Lively’s reputation instead.

The actress in her complaint cited text messages showing Ms. Nathan, pushing to prevent printed articles about Mr. Baldoni’s behavior in being published and reinforcing negatives about Ms. Lively. Other texts, she said, included references to Mr. Wallace, a self-described “hired gun,” leading a digital strategy that included boosting social media posts that could help their cause. For example, one of Ms. Nathan’s associates in a group text: “We’re starting to see shifts in the social realm, largely due to Jed and his team’s efforts to change the narrative.”

Mrs. Lively’s California complaint was a precursor to a lawsuit she filed Tuesday in federal court in the Southern District of New York. “Now the defendants will answer for their conduct in federal court,” her lawyers said in a statement.

Last week, Stephanie Jones, a former publicist for Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer, a lawsuit against them and others alleging breach of contract and other claims. According to the lawsuit, the text messages and emails that Ms. Lively received, through a subpoena, from a company phone used by Ms. Abel, one of Ms. Jones’ employees and which was returned when she was fired.

Since the Times article was published, talent agency William Morris Endeavor has dropped Mr. Baldoni as a customer. Liz Plank, who co-hosted the “Man Enough” podcast with Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath, announced that she would no longer appear on the show.

Colleen Hoover, author of the book “It Ends With Us”; Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar, co-stars in the film; and Alex Saks, one of the producers, are among those who have publicly supported Ms. Lively.