The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants stars have united to support their longtime friend and costar Blake Lively following her allegations against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni.
In a joint statement shared by Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrera on Instagram, with Alexis Bledel as a co-signer, the trio expressed solidarity with 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 statement began.
The actresses went on to commend Lively’s courage during the filming of It Ends With Us and condemned the alleged efforts to discredit her. “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,” the statement continued. “We are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.”
The Allegations Against Baldoni
Lively recently filed an 80-page complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign against her. The document includes excerpts from texts and emails allegedly involving Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, and PR professionals, detailing efforts to damage Lively’s reputation while shielding Baldoni from accusations of misconduct.
The complaint alleges Baldoni engaged in unplanned physical intimacy during scenes without an intimacy coordinator’s involvement, pressured Lively to simulate full nudity during a childbirth scene, and made inappropriate comments about her appearance in front of cast and crew. Lively also accused Baldoni of hiring a weight-loss specialist for her without her consent, sharing unwanted details about his personal life, and invading her personal space while she was breastfeeding.
Tensions Leading Up to the Film’s Release
Observers noted signs of discord during the It Ends With Us press tour earlier this year. Baldoni and Lively were rarely seen together at promotional events, and their respective interviews took starkly different tones. Lively focused on encouraging fans to celebrate the film’s themes by “wearing florals” with friends, while Baldoni spoke extensively about domestic violence, a central theme of the movie.
Baldoni, best known for his role on Jane the Virgin, has long cultivated a public image as a feminist ally. According to Lively’s complaint, he sought to protect this image amid her allegations, fearing that any accusations of misconduct would undermine his credibility.
“Mr. Baldoni was desperate to suppress any suggestion that he engaged [in] inappropriate conduct, much less sexually harassing conduct, because it would entirely undermine his carefully curated public image as a feminist ally,” the complaint states.
Baldoni’s Response
Baldoni and his representatives have denied the allegations. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a statement calling Lively’s claims “categorically false” and alleging they were part of a campaign to “fix her negative reputation.”
A History of Sisterhood
Tamblyn, Ferrera, Bledel, and Lively became close while filming the 2005 hit The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its 2008 sequel. Over the years, they’ve maintained their friendship, frequently reuniting and supporting one another’s endeavors.
Since Lively’s allegations became public, she has received additional support from others connected to It Ends With Us, including author Colleen Hoover, who praised Lively’s integrity in an Instagram Story. “You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive, and patient since the day we met,” Hoover wrote. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
The unfolding controversy has highlighted the broader issue of workplace harassment in Hollywood and the courage of women like Lively who speak out against it.
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