Blake Lively has slammed It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, criticizing the latter’s shift in approach to women’s advocacy as legal tensions escalate between the two. The Gossip Girl alum alleges that Baldoni is undermining the voices of women’s advocacy groups that have supported her.
Blake Lively criticizes Justin Baldoni’s shift on women’s advocacy
Blake Lively has taken a firm stand against Justin Baldoni. She has accused him of abandoning the values he once claimed to uphold. Through a statement issued on June 5, her representative took aim at Baldoni’s legal strategy. They accused Baldoni of targeting women’s rights groups that have publicly backed Lively in her legal fight against him.
The spokesperson said, “19 leading survivors and organizations devoted to women’s rights, children’s rights, and domestic violence have now signed onto four separate amicus briefs.” They added, “All are united in opposing Justin Baldoni’s attempt to dismantle a law designed to protect women who speak up — simply to protect himself.” (via US Weekly)
New briefs from Child USA and Sanctuary for Families have been added to the list. They join major groups like the National Organization for Women, Women’s Justice NOW, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence. The spokesperson also added, “Rather than defend his case on the facts, Baldoni is now contradicting years of his own public persona — abandoning the message of his #MeToo YouTube’s, podcasts, TED Talks, and interviews, where he once upon a time urged men ‘to listen to the women in your life.” Moreover, Lively’s representatives argue that Baldoni’s attempt to challenge these filings is a move aimed at suppressing support for survivors.
This latest development follows a key ruling earlier in the week. On June 2, Judge Lewis Liman determined that Blake Lively’s emotional distress claims would not proceed. This comes after her legal team moved to withdraw them. The judge also denied Justin Baldoni’s request to obtain her private therapy and medical records. He noted that they were no longer relevant in light of the withdrawn claims.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
