Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have found themselves at the center of a storm of controversy following their new movie, *It Ends With Us*. This one opened in August 2024 and has since grossed more than $350 million globally. Lively made the war much worse by filing a legal complaint against Baldoni. She alleged that her physical and emotional safety were put at risk while making the film. Along with this complaint, we’ve filed a 17-point settlement that seeks to guarantee Lively and her crew’s safety.
Along with directing, Baldoni served as a co-producer on It Ends With Us. In response to Lively’s accusations, he filed a $250 million suit against the New York Times — the very media outlet that first reported on the story. Accusations from Lively’s team have led to the conclusion that Baldoni had an unhealthy dynamic with Lively throughout the filming experience. That discussion, fueled by the ongoing legal battle, has led to a political firestorm engaging an incredible range of media pundits and social media activists.
The issue got even messier with allegations aimed at Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. Because reports indicated that Reynolds tried to control the creative direction of the film, sparking conversations about his threatening power behind-the-scenes in Tinseltown. And no doubt podcast host Joe Rogan had a positive effect on that by actively weighing in on the matter. He accused Blake Lively and Reynolds of trying to hijack the production.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens publicly sided with Baldoni, asserting that Blake Lively “has proven herself not to be a kind person.” Owens has referred to Lively as “an avatar for leftist overreach.” His characterization is indicative of a troubling counter-narrative that is developing in right-wing circles about the continuing conflict. This view is reflected in the emerging social media campaign supporting Baldoni, featuring pro-Baldoni hashtags such as #BlakeLivelyIsALiar and #JusticeForJustinBaldoni that have gone viral.
A 2016 interview clip between Blake Lively and Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa recently went viral. This new information has further stoked the backlash against Lively. During the course of that National Geographic interview, Lively said something that struck a nerve. In reaction, Flaa started producing T-shirts on her Etsy shop that say, “Congrats on your little bump,” which Lively threw out there in their exchange. This development, at least in the minds of the public, has contributed further to the shelter of bad character surrounding Lively.
Public discourse about the controversy has shown a shocking divide in support between Twitter, where the outrage erupted, and TikTok, where the movement seems rooted. A recent social media analysis showed that support for Justin Baldoni wins 9 times out of 10 on social media. Hundreds of users have vigorously defended Baldoni. They view the conflict as part of a larger narrative arc involving what women do when put under fire.
Commentators have observed that this dispute is a manifestation of larger social tumult. Media studies scholar Sarah Banet-Weiser recently expressed her alarm about the weaponization of narratives about women. She pointed out the ways that these stories are weaponized in political conversations. She stated, “This is a rightwing multimedia campaign that is about painting women as inherently lying and manipulative.” Banet-Weiser’s remarks highlight how this affair has moved beyond the individual complaints to become representative of larger, systemic problems related to patriarchal forces at work on gender relations.
In light of the ongoing discussions, Melissa Nathan commented on the situation, noting, “Socials are really ramping up. In his favor, she must be furious. It’s actually sad because it just shows you how people really want to hate on women.” This is indicative of a concerning public response in which female leaders receive elevated negative responses.
Additionally, conversations related to the #MeToo movement have been brought back to the forefront during this legal battle. Feminists have long warned that women who speak out in high-profile cases are often the subject of coordinated and aggressive smear campaigns. Perhaps the movement’s initial rallying cry, “believe women,” has been most widely attacked—from the left and the right. Among these critics, Second Wave Feminists claim that its premise has produced the misogynistic-fueled narrative of manipulative women.
Megyn Kelly weighed in on the broader implications of this dynamic, stating, “You’ve been gaslit to high heaven every time you’ve picked up a newspaper in the United States… you have been the victim of overbearing and controlling leftists who think they are the final arbiters of what’s best for you and your life.” This proclamation resonates with a number of the listeners. They view this fight as an outgrowth of the broader cultural war.
Ophie Dokie, another commentator, remarked on the persistent nature of misogyny in society: “Probably misogyny slop has always existed.” That’s a useful frame to understand the way public figures get caught up in larger moral panics. These narratives are deeply about gender and power structures.
Both parties are preparing for what could be a long and drawn out courtroom battle. This controversy will continue to reverberate, shaping the ongoing public debate over gender politics in Tinseltown and beyond.