Blake Lively Takes a Stand Against “Sexist” Cover Amid Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

You know it’s a wild week in Hollywood when celebrity legal battles spill over into magazine covers. Blake Lively is not having it after The Hollywood Reporter released a cover story titled “Blake vs. Baldoni: An Exclusive Look Behind the Battle Lines of Hollywood’s Uncivil War,” featuring a seriously questionable illustration. The cover portrays Lively aiming a slingshot—armed with a cellphone—at her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni. Yeah, you read that right.

Lively’s rep responded with a fiery statement, slamming the depiction as “outrageously insulting” and reinforcing negative stereotypes about women who dare to file complaints in the workplace. She argued that the imagery not only makes her look like the aggressor but also trivializes serious concerns about harassment and retaliation in Hollywood. It’s not just a pretty picture, folks; it dives deep into the murky waters of gender dynamics that haunt the industry.

As you may know, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni last December, accusing him of creating a hostile work environment filled with “sexually inappropriate” behavior. In response, Baldoni launched a countersuit claiming that Lively was part of a “vile smear campaign” and is asking for a whopping $400 million in damages. Talk about dramatic!

In an eyebrow-raising twist, The Hollywood Reporter suggested that the allegations might stem from a “cultural misunderstanding,” citing Baldoni’s Baha’i background. Lively’s team didn’t hold back, claiming that such explanations excuse documented cases of harassment, essentially waving away serious matters as mere misunderstandings.

The report outlined that Baldoni’s legal and PR team went to great lengths to counter Lively’s claims, but many in the industry recognize that these conflicts expose the broader issue of gender equality in Hollywood. It’s a slippery slope, and it’s clear this battle is far from over. With Lively’s latest amended complaint asserting she wasn’t alone in her claims against Baldoni, we’re all going to need some popcorn to stay updated on this legal showdown.

So, as eyes remain glued to the courtroom drama unfold, you can bet everyone’s got an opinion on this. Hollywood, what’s next?

Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and E! News, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times