Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal feud has captivated social media, with many siding with Baldoni.
However, this situation raises important questions about how we view victims of sexual harassment, especially when they are not seen as “perfect.”
The Public’s Response
As TikTok videos and online comments flood the internet, most of the support is leaning toward Baldoni.
However, this response is eerily similar to how the public reacted to the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial.
The pattern is clear: when a woman is not perceived as the “perfect victim,” her allegations are often dismissed.
Lively’s Allegations
In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation.
She alleges that Baldoni improvised intimate scenes without her consent, entered her dressing room while she was undressed, and made inappropriate comments about his past addiction and body.
After raising these concerns during filming, Lively says the studio responded by hiring an intimacy coordinator.
However, the situation escalated when a PR strategy, led by crisis expert Melissa Nathan, allegedly aimed to damage Lively’s reputation.
The Issue with Public Perception
While the allegations are serious, many critics argue that Lively’s past behavior, such as promoting her hair care line during the film’s release, has clouded the conversation.
Lively’s character in It Ends With Us deals with domestic violence, and some believe her failure to take the issue seriously in real life diminishes her credibility.
However, these criticisms should not overshadow the validity of her claims. Women should not be required to be “perfect” victims to have their experiences taken seriously.
A Familiar Pattern: Women in the Spotlight
The situation echoes the Depp vs. Heard trial, where Amber Heard’s credibility was questioned, despite her own allegations of abuse.
Heard famously said, “I’m not a good victim, I’m not a likable victim, but when I testified, I asked the jury to just see me as human.”
Lively’s case is not unique in this sense. Women in the public eye often face a double standard: their actions and personalities are scrutinized, while their allegations are often dismissed because they don’t fit the mold of the “perfect victim.”
What’s Next for Lively and Baldoni?
As the legal battle continues, the public’s opinion will play a significant role in how both actors’ careers unfold.
While the court will ultimately decide the outcome, the court of public opinion can be just as powerful.
Regardless of personal feelings toward Lively, she deserves to be treated with the same respect as any victim of sexual harassment.
Her allegations should be taken seriously, and her right to seek justice should not be diminished because she is not perceived as a “perfect victim.”
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