Blake Lively’s ‘Sisterhood’ Co-Stars Issue Joint Statement Regarding Justin Baldoni Lawsuit
The stars of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" have spoken out in solidarity with Blake Lively amid her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
The stars of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" have spoken out in solidarity with Blake Lively amid her ongoing lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her "It Ends With Us" co-star and the film's director.
The lawsuit, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, fostering a hostile work environment, and attempting to damage Lively's reputation through a targeted social media campaign.
In a joint statement released on Monday, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel expressed their support for Blake Lively, emphasizing the importance of creating safe and respectful working environments in the entertainment industry.
America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, And Amber Tamblyn Release Joint Statement
As Blake Lively's "friends and sisters for over twenty years," the three actresses said they "stand with [Lively] in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation."
They added, "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us,' we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice."
While it is hard to see Lively go through this, the three actresses said the "most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety."
"The hypocrisy is astounding," they added.
Blake Lively Praised By Her 'Sisterhood' Co-Stars
America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn didn't end their statement without praising Lively for her strength.
"We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment," their statement concluded.
Their public show of support comes as social media continues to dissect every detail of the case, with conversations surrounding power dynamics in Hollywood, gender equity, and the role of public perception in high-profile legal battles taking center stage.
Blake Lively Files Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
In her lawsuit, the 37-year-old actress alleged that Justin Baldoni engaged in sexual misconduct on the set of the film. As a result, a meeting was convened to address her concerns, during which Baldoni and his production company reportedly agreed to meet several of her demands, which included, "No more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous pornography addiction, and no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others."
Lively's complaint also alleges that Baldoni hired crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan, who previously worked with Johnny Depp during his widely publicized defamation trial against Amber Heard.
Blake Lively Reportedly Feared For Her Career
In August, a source revealed to the Daily Mail that Blake Lively expressed fears for her career, believing that the ongoing controversies surrounding the film could damage her reputation.
Reportedly, Lively had viewed her role in "It Ends With Us" as “her moment to shine”, but she now worries that the situation might instead jeopardize her future in the industry.
"Blake is definitely saddened by the hate she is getting and is trying not to let it affect her, but it is," the source said at the time. "She thought this was her moment to shine, but is now looking at it like the end of her career. She's fearing no one will want to work with her after this."
They added, "She really wants to continue producing and directing and acting, but she knows she needs to take a step back for a minute to reassess the future."
Rumors Surrounding Justin Baldoni And Blake Lively's Relationship Have Been Circulating For Months
Speculation about tension between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively began circulating on August 6, following the world premiere of "It Ends With Us" in New York. Notably, the two did not pose for photos together on the red carpet.
While Baldoni refrained from taking pictures with any of the cast members, Lively was seen posing alongside several of her co-stars. Observant fans also pointed out that Lively does not follow Baldoni on Instagram, adding fuel to the rumors.
Additionally, Baldoni conducted solo interviews during the film’s press circuit, while the rest of the cast participated in interviews as a group.
