Support for Blake Lively has been pouring in from Sony Pictures and SAG-AFTRA following her allegations against costar and director Justin Baldoni. Both entities released statements condemning any reputational attacks on Lively and applauding her courage in speaking out against harassment and retaliation. Sony reiterated their support for Lively and emphasized the importance of a safe working environment free from harassment and discrimination.
Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, claiming he created a hostile work environment on the set of It Ends With Us. The lawsuit also alleged that Baldoni and his team launched a smear campaign against Lively to damage her reputation. The documents revealed specific requests made to address Lively’s concerns, including not showing nude videos or images, no discussions about sexual conquests, and no inquiries about personal matters. Baldoni has denied all allegations, calling them false and outrageous, suggesting Lively filed the lawsuit to fix her negative reputation.
Baldoni’s lawyer disputed Lively’s smear campaign allegations and claimed that the texts were taken out of context. The lawyer argued that the crisis management firm operated as any other firm would when handling threats from powerful individuals. Freedman also criticized the New York Times for publishing leaked personal text exchanges without critical context, which he believes played into Lively’s PR tactics. The ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni has become a topic of debate in the media.
Support for Lively extended beyond the statements from Sony and SAG-AFTRA. It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover praised Lively on social media for her honesty, kindness, and support throughout the project. Lively’s costar Brandon Sklenar also defended her by sharing the NYT article about the allegations on his Instagram Story. Baldoni, on the other hand, faced consequences for the allegations, with his agency dropping him, his podcast host exiting, and a women’s non-profit rescinding an award given to him.
The situation involving Lively and Baldoni has brought attention to the importance of addressing harassment and maintaining a safe working environment in Hollywood. The support for Lively from industry professionals and colleagues showcases a broader movement towards holding individuals accountable for their actions. As the legal battle continues, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by individuals in the entertainment industry and the need for organizations to enforce policies that protect their employees. The fallout from the allegations has affected both parties involved and sparked discussions on accountability and integrity in the industry.
