Blake Lively drops publicist Leslie Sloane after Baldoni saga

Leslie Sloane, the publicist who helped launch Blake Lively’s career, is no longer part of the actress’s team. This departure follows the conclusion of Lively’s high-profile legal dispute with actor Justin Baldoni.

The end of a long partnership

Sources at Page Six report that Lively removed Sloane from her professional circle. The two began working together after Lively gained fame through the television series “Gossip Girl.” At that time, Sloane was employed by the PR firm Baker Winokur Ryder.

When Sloane established her own agency, Vision PR, she brought Lively along as a client. Since then, Vision PR has represented various Hollywood figures, including Katie Holmes, Uma Thurman, and Marlon Wayans. Sloane is widely credited for elevating Lively’s profile and guiding her toward stardom.

Legal conflict with Justin Baldoni

This split occurs after an extended courtroom war between Lively and her “It Ends With Us” co-star, Justin Baldoni. Following the film’s release, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni denied all such allegations.

In January 2025, Baldoni escalated the situation by filing a $400 million lawsuit. He sued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Sloane, and Vision PR. The suit alleged defamation and wrongdoing.

The “Jane the Virgin” actor specifically claimed that Sloane planted negative stories about him in the media. He also alleged she orchestrated a smear campaign against him. Sloane strongly denied these accusations.

Resolution and costs

A federal judge dismissed Baldoni’s claims against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane in June 2025. Later, in April 2026, the court dismissed Lively’s sexual harassment claims. The matter ended in May 2026 with an out-of-court settlement between both parties, occurring just two weeks before they were scheduled to go to trial.

The 18-month legal battle resulted in combined legal fees of $60 million for the co-stars.