Blake Lively has parted ways with longtime publicist Leslie Sloane after more than two decades together and has reportedly hired a new representative following the conclusion of her legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
Page Six first reported the split on Sept. 29, citing three sources. Lively had worked with Sloane since her early career, remaining a client when the publicist established her own agency, Vision PR, in 2014.
The change follows the May settlement of Lively and Baldoni’s highly publicized litigation over the making and promotion of It Ends With Us. Sloane and her company were also drawn into the dispute after Baldoni named them as defendants in his $400 million lawsuit, which was dismissed in June 2025.
Neither Lively nor Sloane has publicly explained why their professional relationship ended. On Sept. 30, Page Six reported that Lively had signed with Kelly Bush Novak, the founder and CEO of entertainment publicity firm ID, whose clients include Lady Gaga.
Sloane Represented Lively Through Much of Her Career
Lively began working with Sloane when the publicist was at Baker Winokur Ryder, before the actress became widely known for playing Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl.
Their working relationship continued as Lively moved into major film roles, including The Age of Adaline, The Shallows and A Simple Favor. Sloane also remained part of her publicity team as Lively expanded into business ventures and brand partnerships.
When Sloane launched Vision PR, Lively followed her to the new agency. The company went on to represent other prominent entertainment figures, including Katie Holmes and Chris Rock.
Sloane Was Named in Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit
Sloane became a defendant in the litigation after Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Sloane, Vision PR and The New York Times in January 2025.
The complaint accused the defendants of participating in an effort to damage Baldoni’s reputation following Lively’s allegations about her experience working on It Ends With Us. Sloane denied wrongdoing and sought dismissal of the claims against her and her company.
On June 9, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss. The ruling rejected the claims against Sloane and Vision PR, along with the principal claims against Lively, Reynolds and the newspaper.
The judge permitted the plaintiffs a limited opportunity to amend certain contract-related allegations. Sloane’s attorneys subsequently characterized the ruling as a vindication of their client.
Lively and Baldoni Settled Their Remaining Dispute in May
The litigation began after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation connected to the production of the 2024 film. Baldoni denied her allegations and maintained that his side had responded appropriately to concerns raised during filming.
In April 2026, the court dismissed Lively’s sexual harassment claims, while her remaining retaliation claims were still scheduled for trial.
On May 4, the parties announced that they had reached a settlement, avoiding a civil trial scheduled to begin on May 18.
Reuters reported that the agreement ended more than a year of litigation in which both actors had been expected to testify. The joint announcement did not disclose the settlement terms, although the parties expressed hope that the agreement would bring closure to the dispute.
TMZ subsequently reported that no money changed hands as part of the settlement. The outlet also noted that Lively had brought in law firm Susman Godfrey during the later stages of the case and that a judge eventually awarded her approximately $400,000 after she sought more than $8 million in legal fees and costs.
Lively Reportedly Hires Kelly Bush Novak as Her New Publicist
On Sept. 30, Page Six reported that Lively had signed with Kelly Bush Novak, founder and CEO of ID, the entertainment publicity firm formerly known as ID Public Relations.
Novak’s roster has included major Hollywood figures such as Lady Gaga, Christopher Nolan and Javier Bardem. ID has operated for more than three decades, representing clients across film, television, music and entertainment.
According to the report, Lively is retaining her existing agents at WME, her management team at Management 360 and her legal representation. The change concerns her personal publicity representation rather than a wholesale departure from her professional team.