Blake Lively called out Justin Baldoni, and now, 19 women’s rights groups are backing her. What started as a legal dispute has turned into a public reckoning, with advocacy organizations stepping in to defend Lively’s right to speak out. They are not just supporting her claims of sexual harassment but also calling out Baldoni’s legal tactics as dangerous to survivors everywhere.
Blake Lively gains major support from women’s rights advocates
In a new wave of support, 14 additional organizations, including the National Organization for Women and the National Network to End Domestic Violence, filed amicus curiae briefs. They are urging the court to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Blake Lively. This brings the total to 19 groups that stand with her. These groups accuse Baldoni of using DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) strategies to silence Lively and twist the narrative.
Furthermore, Lively’s team directly called out Baldoni’s shift in public stance. Once known for his feminist messaging in podcasts, interviews, and his viral 2017 TED Talk, Baldoni now faces criticism for betraying those same values. “Where he once upon a time urged men to listen to the women in your life … to hold their anguish and actually believe them,” Lively’s statement read. “Now, contradicting years of his own public persona.”
In a June 5 statement to Us Weekly, Lively’s spokesperson emphasized the significance of the support from 19 organizations, including Child USA and Sanctuary for Families. “All are united in opposing Justin Baldoni’s attempt to dismantle a law designed to protect women who speak up, simply to protect himself,” the statement read.
For those in need of more context, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit battle started in December last year when Lively sued Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and reputational damage. Baldoni denied the claims and countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist for $400 million, accusing them of defamation. Both sides have filed motions to dismiss aspects of the case, with a trial expected in 2026.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
