Amber Heard has come forward to offer her support to Blake Lively in the midst of Lively’s legal tussle with Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film “It Ends with Us”. The romantic drama, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s popular novel, features Lively and Baldoni as Lily and Ryle, a couple whose relationship takes a difficult turn when Lily’s first love resurfaces and Ryle’s behavior starts to mirror the domestic abuse she witnessed in her parents’ marriage. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film directed by Baldoni managed to achieve box office success.
Lively has recently filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The suit also claims that Baldoni and his crisis PR team engaged in smear campaigns and manipulated media narratives. There’s evidence in the form of thousands of text messages, emails, and targeted media stories that were seemingly aimed at discrediting Lively. Notably, Melissa Nathan, the PR expert who worked with Johnny Depp during his 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard, is said to have led these efforts.
Heard’s comments draw from her own experience during her high-profile trial with Depp, where she also faced a hostile media narrative. She stated:
“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’ I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
What this situation means for Lively and the entertainment industry is that it shines a light on gender and media manipulation in Hollywood. For “It Ends with Us”, these revelations have a significant impact on its legacy. While the film was commercially successful and there’s continued demand for adaptations of Hoover’s work, its portrayal of domestic abuse has already drawn criticism, and now the alleged smear campaign against Lively further intensifies scrutiny of how the film was promoted and its narrative decisions were made. There’s a clear contrast between the story’s themes and the reported actions that took place behind the scenes.
The similarities between Lively’s and Heard’s experiences highlight a disturbing pattern in Hollywood: the use of public opinion and the media to damage a woman’s reputation during disputes involving male stars. A report provides strong evidence that Baldoni’s crisis PR team, led by Melissa Nathan, deliberately targeted Lively with negative stories and manipulated online discussions. This approach mirrors the tactics allegedly used during Heard’s trial against Depp and emphasizes the deeply rooted gender dynamics that shape such “horrifying” and “destructive” narratives.
In the Depp v. Heard trial, the jury unanimously ruled that Heard had defamed Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard, in her counterclaim, was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages but received no punitive damages.
Women in Hollywood who speak out against misconduct often face excessive backlash regardless of any PR efforts, as public and media attention usually turns against them, painting them as unreliable or vindictive. These gendered dynamics increase the risks for those who dare to challenge systemic power abuses, creating an environment where harming someone’s reputation becomes a means of silencing opposition. For “It Ends with Us”, the contrast between its themes of resilience and empowerment and the alleged actions on set highlights a concerning disconnect and casts further doubt on its standing as both a work of art and a cultural statement.
Amber Heard’s support for Blake Lively is that Lively’s fight brings to the fore the power dynamics within the industry. Her lawsuit against Baldoni exposes a troubling misuse of power, with PR strategies allegedly being used to damage her reputation and sway public perception in Baldoni’s favor, which is strikingly similar to what happened in the Depp v. Heard case in 2022.
For “It Ends with Us”, these accusations widen the gap between the film’s themes of resilience and female empowerment and the alleged behavior during production. As Lively’s legal battle progresses, her determination to confront these issues could lead to meaningful changes, pushing for a Hollywood where women can speak out without fearing retaliation. Her bravery not only emphasizes the need for reform but also sets an important example for addressing power imbalances in the industry.
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