Blake Lively was allegedly outraged by a cover image recently published by The Hollywood Reporter, which depicted her hurling a slingshot at Justin Baldoni amidst their ongoing legal spat. A spokesperson for the 37-year-old actress, renowned for her role in "It Ends With Us," lambasted the magazine in an interview with the Daily Mail on Friday, stating, "The Hollywood Reporter should hang its head in shame."
"The composition of this picture is incredibly insulting, perpetuating sexist stereotypes about women who dare to file workplace complaints," the spokesperson continued. "It portrays them as aggressors and implies that they deserve any retaliation coming their way."
The magazine highlighted a controversial image alongside an insightful article that delved into how Baldoni's Bahá'í faith might have "unwittingly factored into" his dispute with Lively, sparking heated discussions. For instance, The Hollywood Reporter highlighted a claim made by Lively in her California Civil Rights Department complaint and subsequent lawsuit – that the director once boasted about his ability to communicate with her deceased father, which aligned with his past lectures on his faith. "He has also alluded to his fascination with the afterlife in interviews," the magazine's story revealed.
Furthermore, the article posed a question: does Lively and Baldoni's legal battle owe more to a simple cultural misunderstanding than to gender equality? "What if much of it – the alleged inappropriate hugging and pre-filming praying – could be seen as a clash between a very specific faith-driven community with unique customs, and a much more modern, post-#MeToo world with its own set of beliefs and mandates?"
Lively's representative added, "The story is deeply offensive, seemingly excusing documented instances of sexual harassment and retaliation by branding them as 'cultural misunderstandings.'"
Page Six reached out to The Hollywood Reporter for comment, but as of yet, no response has been received. Lively has steadfastly maintained the truthfulness of her sexual harassment allegations against Baldoni. In an amended complaint filed this week, she reiterated that the "Jane the Virgin" alumnus exhibited "creepy" behavior on set, including inquiring about her and her husband Ryan Reynolds' sex life. She further claimed that he made several other women working on the film feel "uncomfortable."
Jenny Slate, though not named in Lively's lawsuit, was allegedly another individual who filed an HR complaint against Baldoni, according to a Friday revelation by The Hollywood Reporter. The 42-year-old "Big Mouth" actress has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
Baldoni has categorically denied all of Lively's allegations, including claims that he orchestrated a "smear campaign" against his former co-star to "destroy" her reputation in retaliation for speaking out. He has also filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, 48, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of extortion, defamation, false light, invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and other charges.
Through her legal representatives, Lively has labeled Baldoni's lawsuit as "another chapter in the abuser playbook." Their cases have been consolidated, with a potential trial date set for March 9, 2026. All involved parties have declined the court's mediation offers, asserting that settlement negotiations would be "premature."
