OPINION: Lively sets back feminism
By Janae Noriega
Bridge Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Actress Blake Lively’s lawsuit sparks backlash, setting back the #MeToo movement and dealing a blow to feminism.
On Dec. 31, 2024, only five months after the release of the movie adaptation, It Ends with Us, Lively filed a lawsuit against lead actor and executive producer Justin Baldoni. This lawsuit sent shockwaves through Hollywood and among fans of the film and book, due to its sensitive theme. The movie centers around the abusive relationship between the main characters, Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid.
Bridge Staff Writer
The claims filed in the lawsuit against Baldoni included allegations of creating a hostile work environment and incidents of sexual harassment—contradicting the message Baldoni aimed to convey to the audience. Many initially believed Lively, like her character, was taking a stand against wrongdoing; however, Baldoni’s countersuit, along with presented evidence, suggests a different narrative.
Text messages, voice messages and videos from the set—with clear and precise audio—allegedly contradict Lively’s claims. As a result, she has reportedly attempted to conceal this evidence by filing a motion to remove and gag Baldoni’s current counsel, Bryan Freeman. If her claims were truthful and valid, why would she take steps to suppress the evidence Baldoni provided?
Actions like these contribute to the skepticism surrounding accusations of misconduct, reinforcing the belief that some individuals may make false allegations to protect their public image. The phrase “Always believe the victim” faces a significant challenge when unsubstantiated claims come to light.
[Editor’s Note: The initial lawsuit from December 2024 was followed by a denial of the allegations by Baldoni. He countersued Lively, Ryan Reynolds and their publicity team for defamation, extortion and invasion of privacy. He also created a website called http://thelawsuitinfo.com where he lists the documentation of his claims. The court scheduled the countersuit trial for March 2026.]
