Blake Lively’s ‘Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ costars support her amid Justin Baldoni complaint: ‘We are appalled’
Three of Blake Lively’s costars from “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” expressed their admiration for her “courage” after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against her “It Ends with Us” costar Justin Baldoni.
America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, who starred with Lively in the 2005 coming-of-age drama when they were all in their late teens and early 20s, wrote in a joint statement on Instagram on Dec. 22 that they are “appalled” about an alleged smear campaign against Lively.
“As Blake’s friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the three actors wrote in their statement. “Throughout the filming of ‘It Ends with Us,’ we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.”
In her complaint against Baldoni, Lively said he participated in a coordinated public relations effort to “destroy” her reputation. Baldoni’s lawyer told TODAY.com that Lively’s claims are “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
Lively also said in her complaint that a meeting was held during the filming of “It Ends with Us” to address Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath’s alleged “inappropriate conduct.” The two men were asked to stop showing nude videos and images of women to Lively and others and to stop discussing their past “pornography addiction” as well as their “personal experiences of sex” in front of her and others, according to the complaint.
“It Ends with Us” is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel about a woman named Lily Bloom, played by Lively in the film.
Hoover also posted a message of support to Lively on Dec. 21, tagging the actor on her Instagram story.
“@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patience since the day we met,” Hoover wrote. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
The movie was released in August 2024 and became a box office hit. It details the story of Bloom, who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, played by Baldoni, who also directed the movie.
Kincaid then becomes physically and emotionally abusive toward Bloom during their relationship, which brings back Bloom’s memories of her father abusing her mother.
“Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety,” Lively’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” costars wrote in their statement. “The hypocrisy is astounding.”
Tamblyn, Bledel and Ferrera then expressed their solidarity for Lively.
“We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment. We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.”
Lively’s complaint also includes excerpts of texts and emails from Baldoni’s team, which were obtained through a subpoena that she claims detailed a plan to harm Lively’s reputation.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement to TODAY.com.
Baldoni’s attorney called Lively’s claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” and called her legal action a “desperate attempt” to repair damage to her reputation.
