Blake Lively’s ‘Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Costars Stand By Her Amid Lawsuit
Blake Lively has received strong support from her 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' costars. On December 22, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel issued a statement backing Lively amid her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
As Lively’s friends for over twenty years, the actresses declared their solidarity. "We stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," they stated via Instagram. The support came after Lively accused Baldoni, 40, of sexual harassment on the set of *It Ends With Us* and alleged he orchestrated a smear campaign.
The trio emphasized their concern about Lively’s bravery during filming. "Throughout the filming, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set," they explained. They conveyed their outrage over a "premeditated and vindictive effort" to discredit her. They also criticized the exploitation of the domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence her, finding the hypocrisy astounding.
"This reality is striking: even a strong and celebrated woman like Blake can face severe retaliation," the actresses noted. They expressed inspiration from Lively’s courage to advocate for herself and others. Their statement mentioned the importance of engaging online about Lively's situation, recommending a complete review of the legal complaint reported by The New York Times team.
Blake Lively, 37, starred with Ferrera, 40, Tamblyn, 41, and Bledel, 43, in the original "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" in 2005 and its sequel in 2008. Tamblyn added a personal note on Instagram, sharing her role as a "confidant" to Lively during the challenging moments on set.
"I remember how incredibly painful it was for her," Tamblyn expressed. She appreciated that important reporting has brought these challenges to light, guiding followers to The New York Times’ coverage of the lawsuit.
Lively filed her lawsuit on December 20 with the California Civil Complaints Department. She accused Baldoni, her co-star and director, of sexual harassment and conducting a reputation-damaging campaign.
Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called Lively’s accusations "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious," arguing that the suit was meant to "fix her negative reputation" and revisit narratives regarding the film’s production. Freedman claimed Lively made "multiple demands and threats" while filming, hinting at potential negative impacts on the film's release if her demands weren't met.
In response to The New York Times on December 21, Lively denied spreading negative information about Baldoni. "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics," she stated.
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