The Blake Lively publicist split is official — and it’s a big one. Three sources told Page Six that Lively has cut ties with Leslie Sloane, the Hollywood powerhouse who has represented the actress for more than two decades.
It’s the end of one of the most enduring star-publicist relationships in Hollywood — and it comes just months after Lively’s nasty 18-month court battle with Justin Baldoni finally came to a close.
A Two-Decade Partnership Ends
Lively hired Sloane more than 20 years ago, as the young actress was rising to fame on “Gossip Girl” and Sloane was still working at the PR firm Baker Winokur Ryder. Sloane is widely credited with helping propel Lively from teen-drama favorite to full-blown A-lister.
In 2014, when Sloane launched her own firm, Vision PR, she took Lively with her — a sign of just how central the actress was to the publicist’s business. Vision PR has since grown into one of Hollywood’s top crisis and celebrity PR shops, with a client roster that includes Katie Holmes, Chris Rock, Uma Thurman, Marlon Wayans and Lindsay Lohan.
Now, that two-decade relationship is over. Page Six reports that neither Sloane nor Lively’s manager responded to requests for comment.
The Baldoni Fallout
According to Page Six, the split follows the fallout from Lively’s headline-making drama with Justin Baldoni, her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director. The feud was messy, public, and expensive: the battle reportedly cost the co-stars a combined $60 million in legal fees.
The timeline of the dispute:
- December 2024: Lively sues Baldoni, accusing the director of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign against her after she complained about his alleged behavior on the “It Ends With Us” set.
- The smear-campaign counterclaim: Baldoni’s own lawsuit pulled Sloane into the fight, accusing her firm of participating in a smear campaign against him. Those claims were later dismissed.
- 2026 settlement: Lively and Baldoni settled their legal fight with no money exchanged, according to TMZ.
- September 2026: Lively parts ways with Sloane.
The fact that Sloane was named — however unsuccessfully — in Baldoni’s countersuit made the relationship untenable in the eyes of many industry watchers, even though the claims against her were dismissed. When a publicist becomes part of the story, the playbook often says it’s time for a fresh start.
Why This Matters in Hollywood
A-list publicists are rarely just hired help — they are confidants, strategists, and crisis managers rolled into one. For Lively, Sloane was there for every chapter: the “Gossip Girl” years, the Ryan Reynolds romance and marriage, the fashion-icon reinvention, the Betty Buzz lifestyle-brand launch, and the brutal Baldoni saga.
Changing representation at this level is never casual. In Hollywood, when a star of Lively’s stature swaps publicists, it usually signals one of two things: a desire to reset the narrative, or a sign that the old narrative has become the story itself. After an 18-month legal war that played out in headlines, a reset looks increasingly likely.
Lively has not yet announced who will represent her going forward, and that detail is unconfirmed at this time.
For more celebrity news, see our coverage of Dove Cameron and Damiano David’s Tuscany wedding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Blake Lively drop her publicist?
Three sources told Page Six that Lively cut ties with longtime publicist Leslie Sloane following the fallout from her 18-month legal battle with Justin Baldoni. The exact reason has not been confirmed by either side, and neither Sloane nor Lively’s manager commented.
How long did Leslie Sloane represent Blake Lively?
More than two decades. Lively hired Sloane during her “Gossip Girl” rise, and when Sloane founded Vision PR in 2014, Lively went with her.
What was the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni lawsuit about?
Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign after she complained about his alleged behavior on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni countersued, dragging Sloane into the fight with claims that were later dismissed. The pair settled in 2026 with no money exchanged, according to TMZ.
Who are Leslie Sloane’s other clients?
Vision PR’s roster includes Katie Holmes, Chris Rock, Uma Thurman, Marlon Wayans, and Lindsay Lohan, according to Page Six.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.