Blake Lively has made her feelings clear about the recent cover of The Hollywood Reporter, calling it “outrageously insulting” and “sexist.”
The 37-year-old actress, currently embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni, expressed her anger through a spokesperson who spoke to Daily Mail.
The statement accused the publication of reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women who come forward with workplace complaints.
The Hollywood Reporter cover, which featured an image of Lively seemingly attacking Baldoni with a slingshot, has ignited fury among fans and critics alike.
The cover art, which referenced the biblical story of David and Goliath, portrayed Lively as the underdog fighting against Baldoni, who is shown holding a copy of the book It Ends with Us.
Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, made an appearance in the background as a variant of Deadpool, further complicating the situation. Many have expressed their disbelief over how the cover seemed to trivialize the serious nature of the lawsuit.
Backlash Over The Hollywood Reporter’s Tone
The response from social media users was swift and furious.
Many accused the magazine of turning a serious matter into a joke, particularly given the allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.
One Twitter user wrote, “The audacity to turn this whole case into a joke is f**king alarming. I stand with Blake Lively because I believe her.”
Others called the cover a “shameful mockery” of a serious issue and criticized the portrayal of Lively as the David figure, despite her being the more established celebrity and married to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
The controversy over the cover only adds fuel to the fire in Lively’s ongoing legal battle.
The actress recently amended her sexual harassment lawsuit, claiming that she wasn’t the only woman who felt uncomfortable working with Baldoni on the set of It Ends with Us.
According to her updated complaint, other women have since come forward with similar stories, further corroborating Lively’s original claims.
Lively Expands Legal Complaint with Additional Evidence
In her amended complaint, filed in New York federal court, Lively included new evidence and communications that support her initial allegations.
The amended version of the lawsuit also adds a defamation claim against Baldoni, marking a significant escalation in their legal feud.
Lively’s attorneys have stated that this new filing “provides significant additional evidence and corroboration” of her claims and that she is seeking justice not only for sexual harassment but also for defamation and retaliation.
Baldoni’s legal team, however, has pushed back, claiming that their client has provided “real-time documents and video” to refute the allegations.
They maintain that Lively’s claims lack solid evidence and rely on hearsay.
The defamation suit against Lively and her team is ongoing, with Baldoni’s attorneys asserting that the actress’s claims are exaggerated and unsupported by facts.
The Legal Battle Continues with No Resolution in Sight
Despite the mounting tensions between Lively and Baldoni, it seems that the end of this legal battle is nowhere in sight.
Last month, a judge set a trial date for March 2026, meaning the two stars will likely face off in court for years to come.
Both sides have already chosen to skip any attempt at mediation, indicating their firm commitment to pursuing the case to the fullest extent.
As Lively’s legal battle continues, so does the public scrutiny.
While her fans rally behind her, the magazine cover and ongoing court case serve as stark reminders of the complexities and challenges women face when bringing harassment claims to light in the public eye.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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