Entertainment reporter Kjersti Flaa found herself entangled in the ongoing legal battle between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, asserting that Lively used her "as a pawn" in the dispute. The conflict stems from Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, her co-star in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's "It Ends With Us." Lively alleges Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her, and Flaa's 2016 interview with Lively has become a point of contention.

Flaa's video, titled "The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job," resurfaced during the film's press tour. In the video, Lively seemingly mirrored Flaa's congratulations on her pregnancy, even though Flaa wasn't pregnant at the time. This video, which gained millions of views, was referenced in Lively's lawsuit, leading Flaa to believe she was being portrayed as part of Baldoni's alleged smear campaign. Flaa vehemently denies any involvement, suggesting to The Ankler that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, are leveraging their Hollywood influence to discredit her and bolster Lively's image.

The New York Times, which initially reported on Lively's claims, highlighted Flaa's past interviews with Johnny Depp, who shares a PR representative with Baldoni. Flaa argues this connection was used to further insinuate her involvement in the alleged smear campaign. She expressed her frustration to USA Today, stating that Lively's legal team disregarded the fact that she had no part in the alleged campaign, choosing instead to focus on a hashtag from a Depp video on her YouTube channel.

Lively's lawsuit details allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress against Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath. The complaint mentions an "all hands" meeting attended by Lively, Reynolds, and others to address these concerns. Lively has publicly stated her hope that the lawsuit will expose retaliatory tactics used against those who speak out about misconduct. Baldoni, however, maintains his innocence, with his lawyer calling the claims false and destructive. He has since filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and hinted at possible legal action against Lively.

Both sides claim to possess evidence supporting their respective positions, promising further revelations as the legal battle continues.