America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel have released a statement in support of their former co-star Blake Lively, following her allegations of harassment against 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star Justin Baldoni.
- December 23, 2024
AceShowbiz - Blake Lively's longtime friends and co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel have come out in support of the actress after her allegations of harassment against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of "It Ends with Us".
"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," the trio wrote in a joint Instagram post. "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."
They expressed their shock and dismay at the "premeditated and vindictive effort" to discredit Lively's voice, particularly the exploitation of domestic violence survivor stories to silence her. "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," the actresses said. "We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others," the statement concluded.
Lively's complaint alleges that Baldoni's inappropriate behavior included showing her explicit images, asking her personal questions, and adding intimacy scenes to the script without her consent. She also accused lead producer Jamey Heath of participating in the misconduct.
Despite her requests for a safe work environment, Lively states that Baldoni hired crisis publicists to launch a retaliatory smear campaign against her. The complaint claims that she has suffered "severe emotional distress" as a result of his actions.
The statement from Lively's co-stars emphasizes the significance of her courage in speaking out, recognizing that even women with her success and resources can face retaliation for demanding a safe workplace.
They encouraged others to read the full legal complaint in The New York Times, a publication that played a crucial role in exposing the allegations.
Baldoni's lawyer has denied the accusations, calling them "categorically false." However, Lively has received support from other figures, including Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel "It Ends with Us", who praised her for her honesty and resilience.
