Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni ridiculed by The Hollywood Reporter as they joke about legal battle
The Hollywood Reporter has faced intense criticism over its latest magazine cover depicting actress Blake Lively throwing a mobile phone at director Justin Baldoni.
The controversial cover, which shows Baldoni clutching a copy of “It Ends with Us”, has sparked outrage for appearing to make light of serious sexual harassment allegations.
Social media users have condemned the publication for its insensitive portrayal of the ongoing legal battle between the two entertainment figures.
Lively, 37, filed legal action against Baldoni, 41, in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni has denied all allegations and responded with a £400million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane.
The pair had been working together on the Colleen Hoover adaptation “It Ends with Us”, which has already drawn criticism for its “tone-deaf” media approach and handling of domestic abuse themes.
“The audacity to turn this whole case into a joke is f**king alarming. I stand with Blake Lively because I believe her… I don’t care if people say she’s not a perfect victim or whatever bulls**t – it really doesn’t matter. Predators should be punished,’ one tweeted.
Another user added: “Incredibly inappropriate. You have a responsibility as a publication, but time and time again yours has trivialized sexual harassment and assault, among other horrible things.”
“Something is actually deeply wrong with your publication that you thought this disgusting cover was even remotely appropriate. This is disturbing,” a third fired.
A fourth asked: “Did you forget that this entire case is about sexual harassment in the workplace?”
Others branded the cover as “truly disturbing & a shameful mockery” of workplace sexual harassment allegations.
Many also expressed confusion over why Lively was being portrayed as David in this scenario, despite being the bigger star and her marriage to one of Hollywood’s biggest actors.
‘”Blake Lively is not the David in this story lmfao what even is this???” one scoffed.
The controversy follows Reynolds’ recent appearance at Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special, where he made a quip about the legal situation during a skit with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, criticised Reynolds’ attempt at humour on Hot Mics with Bill Bush, stating: “I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation”.
The SNL joke had already drawn criticism online, with viewers unimpressed by Reynolds making light of the serious legal case.
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Neither Lively nor Reynolds have publicly responded to The Hollywood Reporter’s controversial cover.
The magazine’s portrayal of the legal dispute has added further tension to an already contentious case that has dominated entertainment headlines.
The backlash against the publication continues to mount on social media, with critics particularly focused on its treatment of workplace harassment allegations.