Blake Lively has received public support from her It Ends With Us castmates amid her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. Jenny Slate, who starred alongside Lively in the film, voiced her solidarity on December 23, calling Lively a “leader” and “trusted source of emotional support.” Slate condemned the alleged attacks on Lively’s reputation as “terribly dark and disturbing.”
Slate, 42, played Allysa, the sister of Baldoni’s character Ryle Kincaid, in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. The movie, released in August, follows Lively’s Lily Bloom as she navigates a dangerous relationship with Ryle while reconnecting with her first love, Atlas.
The lawsuit, filed by Lively on December 20, accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. According to the legal documents, Lively alleges Baldoni caused severe emotional distress by improvising inappropriate scenes, body-shaming her, and entering her trailer uninvited while she was breastfeeding.
Lively further claimed Baldoni orchestrated a “social manipulation” campaign to damage her reputation, citing evidence of texts and emails involving Baldoni, a crisis management expert, and a publicist. The lawsuit accuses the team of proposing “astroturfing,” a tactic involving fabricated public opinions to sway perception.
In her statement to The New York Times, Lively said she hopes her legal action will expose harmful tactics used against those who report misconduct. “I hope this helps protect others who may be targeted,” she shared.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the allegations as “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” Freedman suggested the lawsuit was an attempt by Lively to repair her reputation and claimed she threatened to skip filming and promotional events unless her demands were met.
Support for Lively has been overwhelming, with several celebrities, including Brandon Sklenar and Colleen Hoover, speaking out. Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, praised Lively’s honesty and kindness, urging fans to read her NYT interview. She expressed gratitude for Lively’s courage, calling her an inspiration.
As the legal battle unfolds, public opinion continues to rally around Lively, with her co-stars and fans standing by her side in solidarity.
