In a show of solidarity, Hollywood actresses America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel have come forward to support Blake Lively following her legal action against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni.
Ms Lively has lodged a legal complaint against Mr Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a campaign aimed at tarnishing her reputation.
On Saturday, Mr Baldoni’s legal representatives told the BBC that the allegations are “categorically false.”
Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Biedel, who appeared alongside Lively in the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, released a joint statement on Instagram expressing their support and solidarity with her on Sunday.
Coleen Hoover, renowned for her novel It Ends With Us, backed Ms Lively, describing her as “honest, kind, supportive, and patient.”
Attorneys representing Ms Lively have stated that the legal action comes in response to a meeting held earlier this year, which aimed to tackle allegations of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour” attributed to Baldoni, her co-star and a producer involved in the film.
In a recent statement, Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Biedel expressed their unwavering support for Blake, stating, “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.
“During the production of It Ends with Us, she demonstrated remarkable bravery by advocating for a safe working environment for herself and her fellow crew members. Learning about the calculated and retaliatory actions taken to undermine her credibility is deeply concerning.
They stated, “What is most troubling is the blatant exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ narratives to suppress a woman who sought safety.” The level of hypocrisy is genuinely remarkable. The statement highlighted a troubling reality: even a woman as strong, celebrated, and well-resourced as our friend Blake can encounter significant backlash for simply advocating for a safe working environment.
“The courage displayed by our sister in standing up for herself and others serves as a source of inspiration.”
Attorneys representing Mr Baldoni revealed that they engaged a crisis manager in response to threats from Ms Lively, who allegedly indicated she would obstruct the film’s progress unless her demands were fulfilled.
In the film It Ends With Us, Ms. Lively portrays a woman entangled in a relationship with a charismatic yet abusive partner, portrayed by Mr. Baldoni.
Colleen Hoover, the novel’s author who inspired the film, expressed her support in an Instagram story. She wrote, “@BlakeLively, you have been honest, kind, supportive, and patient since we met.”We appreciate you for being authentically yourself.
Maintain your current state. Always remain resilient.
She subsequently provided a link to a New York Times article titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine.”
Hoover has shared the statement from Ferrara, Biedel, and Tamblyn, remarking, “The courage displayed by these women, along with Blake’s determination to stand firm and not be silenced, has been truly inspiring.”
On January 4, 2024, Ms Lively, Mr Baldoni, and other film production team members, including Ms Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, met to discuss what Ms Lively’s legal filing described as “the hostile work environment” on set.
Mr Baldoni participated in the meeting as the co-chairman and co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, the company responsible for producing the film. The individual in question also served as the film’s director.
In a recent legal complaint, attorneys representing Ms Lively assert that Mr Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath exhibited “inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour” towards Ms Lively and others during the production of It Ends With Us.
A recent filing with the California Civil Rights Department outlines a series of 30 demands concerning alleged misconduct by the individuals involved in the film production. These demands were presented during a meeting to secure the continuation of the project.
In a recent complaint, Ms. Lively has made several requests regarding the conduct of her co-stars, Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Heath. She has asked for an end to any discussions about their past “pornography addiction” in her presence or that of other crew members. Additionally, she has requested that there be no further descriptions of their genitalia directed at her. Furthermore, Ms.
Lively has stipulated that there should be no inclusion of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing involving her character beyond what was outlined in the script she approved upon joining the project.
Ms Lively has called on Mr Baldoni to cease his claims of being able to communicate with her deceased father.
Ms Lively’s legal representatives have levelled serious allegations against Mr Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, claiming they orchestrated a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation.
She claims that this was “the intended result of a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her and others from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath created.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bryan Freedman, the attorney representing Mr. Baldoni, expressed strong disapproval regarding the legal complaint. He stated, “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives.”
Mr Freedman has levelled accusations against Ms Lively, claiming she made a series of demands and threats. He stated that she threatened to not appear on set and to withhold promotion for the film, actions he suggested could ultimately jeopardize its success upon release if her conditions were not fulfilled.
He accused Ms Lively of making claims that were “deliberately provocative to cause public harm and revive a narrative in the media”.
In a recent statement delivered through her legal representatives to the BBC, Ms Lively expressed her hopes that her legal action will expose the troubling retaliatory tactics aimed at silencing individuals who report misconduct while safeguarding others who might become targets.
She firmly rejected any claims that she or her representatives had disseminated negative information regarding Mr Baldoni or Wayfarer.
The film achieved significant commercial success, yet a number of critics argued that it portrayed domestic violence in a romanticized manner.
