Justin Baldoni faced charges of “creating a hostile work environment on set and orchestrating a smear campaign” on Jan. 4 from Hollywood A-lister Blake Lively on the set of “It Ends With Us.” This movie is a book turned movie adaptation that tells the story of a woman, Lily Bloom, finding her way out of an abusive marriage with the male lead, Ryle Kincaid. Lively was cast to play the role of Lily Bloom while lesser-known actor Baldoni was chosen for Ryle. Fans first suspected tension when Baldoni was excluded from many cast appearances at promotions.
With more specific accusations such as talk of pornography, fat-shaming, and constant improvised kisses on set coming to light, a flurry of hate was sent toward Baldoni. In response, on Dec. 31, 2024, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for reporting on Lively’s allegations, stating that the newspaper was bending to the “Hollywood elites,” namely Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Since Baldoni retaliated, people have been divided on whose side to take. Comments of social media have referenced the Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp case from April 11-June 1, 2022, in which Depp sued Heard for defamation after she suggested he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed. The vast majority of people were convinced that Depp was innocent due to his roles in beloved childhood franchises like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Furthermore, people were in disapproval of Amber Heard due to the initial pieces of evidence presented in court, including the claim that Depp lost the tip of his middle finger after Heard threw a vodka bottle at him.
It was only during the settlement of the case that Depp sued yet another newspaper in 2020 after it called him a “wife beater” and ended up losing the case.
Now, people are using this case to support one of each side in the lawsuit battle between Baldoni and Lively. Heard represented the “underdog” of Hollywood, someone who was in a position of significantly less power than her counterpart, Depp. Baldoni is similar to Heard in the fact that both Lively and her husband have been well-respected in the film industry for most of their lives.
This case therefore presents a troubling fact: the prioritization of personality and power over the truth. Instead of realizing how allowing people to view the Heard v. Depp case was harmful to swaying public opinion and reinforcing existing biases, that same audience is pushing for the free viewing of the upcoming Lively v. Baldoni case.
No matter how much we are used to seeing these public figures on our screens for entertainment, we must understand how they are people first and foremost before their vocational identities as actors or internet personalities. Taking a sensitive time with allegations being fired left and right with no confirmed evidence and using it as an opportunity for our viewing pleasure is inhumane and the least reasonable way to decide whom to support.
There have already been damages done to Baldoni’s career; he was reportedly dropped by his talent agency on Dec. 21, 2024, and on Dec. 24, 2024, Vital Voices, a nonprofit that focuses on empowering women, rescinded an award given to Baldoni due to his deteriorating reputation in the eyes of the public. On the other hand, Lively has received comments accusing her of being a “manipulative liar” and a “diva,” leading people to state that she is yet another example of a woman standing up for sexual harassment and getting the tables turned on her.
Both celebrities are working toward public vindication through their PR fight, but the longer this conflict persists, the more their reputations will worsen.
In the meantime, let us no longer do irreparable damage to the lives of people we do not yet know the truth about. The court of public opinion must be omitted for justice to be served.
