Star-studded ‘sisters’ of Blake Lively voice support after Justin Baldoni suit

A “sisterhood” of celebrities have voiced their support for US actress Blake Lively in the wake of her lawsuit and sexual harassment complaint against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni.

Lively’s former cast members from the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, released a joint social media statement to defend their longtime friend.

“As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the joint statement reads, released via Instagram.

They added: “Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.”

The trio of actors praised Lively’s resilience and her refusal to work in a hostile work environment.

“We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment,” the statement continues.

“We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.”

They added: “For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this important conversation online, please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times.”

Baldoni, 40, and the studio behind the romantic drama are accused of embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage Lively’s reputation following a meeting to address accusations against Baldoni and a producer of the film of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour”, according to the legal document shared by The New York Times.

In the complaint for damages, which precedes a lawsuit, Baldoni, his publicists and Wayfarer Studios, are listed among the defendants.

It Ends With Us, based on Hoover’s novel of the same name, is about a woman’s pursuit of a loving and healthy relationship, with Lively, 37, playing the lead character Lily Bloom and Baldoni as her love interest Ryle Kincaid.

In a post to her Instagram stories, Hoover wrote: “@blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met.

“Thank you for being exactly the human that you are.

“Never change. Never wilt.”

She then linked to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine.

The article details the complaint including accusations that Baldoni retained a crisis communications specialist who, with the director and “approval” of the studio, launched a “sophisticated, co-ordinated, and well-financed retaliation plan” creating “manufactured content” that would “influence public opinion”.

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement to the newspaper.

Bryan Freedman, a lawyer representing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, said the claims were “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious”, adding that the studio “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film”.

He added: “There were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario-planning and private correspondence to strategise, which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals.”

Rumours regarding a fractured relationship between Lively and Baldoni began around the film’s release at the beginning of August.

In It Ends With Us, Lily (Lively) falls in love with Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) before reconnecting with her first love (Brandon Sklenar) – amid a backdrop of domestic violence.

Baldoni is also known for his role as Rafael Solano in the telenovela Jane The Virgin and wrote a book called Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity about pushing back against traditional notions of masculinity.

Lively has four children with husband Ryan Reynolds, the Deadpool actor who is a co-owner of Wrexham AFC football team.

She has starred in films including The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants, The Age Of Adaline, and A Simple Favour, and played Serena van der Woodsen in the hit teen drama series Gossip Girl.

The PA news agency has approached Lively’s representatives for comment.