Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 22, 2025 · Entertainment

Blake Lively Speaks Out on Domestic Violence Amidst Legal Drama

Blake Lively, 38, continues to focus on issues she finds critical amid an ongoing career crisis linked to her 2024 film It Ends With Us. Pictured Monday in NYC

Blake Lively Fights Back Against Sexual Harassment Allegations with a Scathing Message

Blake Lively is finally speaking out against the allegations that have been haunting her for months. The 38-year-old actress, married to Ryan Reynolds and known for her stunning performances in movies like "Gossip Girl" and "It Ends with Us", has taken to Instagram Stories to share some shocking statistics about domestic violence among teens in America.

The lawsuit linked to her 2024 film "It Ends with Us" continues to make headlines, and it seems Lively is determined to use this platform to raise awareness about the critical issue of domestic violence. The movie, which was based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, earned over $350 million globally, but the success has been overshadowed by the allegations made by its stars.

The Gossip Girl star on Sunday shared a pair of screen grabs in hopes of spreading awareness to her 42.2 million followers on the issue, and what can be done to remedy it moving forward

Lively's Instagram post comes after a tumultuous year, during which she was slammed for neglecting to speak out about domestic violence when promoting "It Ends with Us". But now, it seems she's using her platform to spread awareness and offer insights on what can be done to combat the problem.

The actress shared harrowing statistics about the epidemic of domestic violence among teens in America, highlighting the need for early education and prevention. She praised organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Love Is Respect, which are working tirelessly to educate teens about safe and healthy relationships.

"Early and appropriate education is critical for both prevention and activation," Lively emphasized, adding that digital and emotional violence are becoming increasingly prevalent among teens.

The A-list actress praised the National Domestic Violence Hotline for their resources

But what's behind this sudden change of heart? Sources close to the actress reveal that she's been privately working on a plan to address the allegations against her, including claims of sexual harassment by director Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit, which was filed in December 2024, accuses Baldoni of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively and damaging her reputation.

In a scathing message to Baldoni and his team, Lively took aim at their alleged tactics: "The fact that they're trying to discredit me by saying I'm 'extorting' them is just laughable. They're the ones who are trying to silence me and cover up their own wrongdoing."

A deposition obtained by The Scholarly Note reveals that a former WME agent, Danny Greenberg, compared Lively's conduct on set to "extortion". But when questioned about his use of the term, Greenberg clarified that he was referring to the growing tension between Wayfair and Sony, not actual extortion.

Baldoni, pictured in August of 2024, has spent much of the year focused on his legal battle with Lively, his collaborator in the hit romantic drama It Ends with Us

Meanwhile, Baldoni has been quietly building his defense team, with a recent filing revealing that he's seeking $400 million in damages. But Lively remains undeterred, using her platform to shine a light on the important issue of domestic violence.

As one insider puts it: "Blake is finally speaking out and taking control of the narrative. She's not going to let anyone silence her or bully her into submission."

The drama surrounding "It Ends with Us" has been brewing for months, but it seems Lively is just getting started. With this latest Instagram post, she's sending a clear message: she won't be silenced.

Lively in December sued Baldoni amid claims of sexual harassment during production of the motion picture, which was a hit when it arrived in theaters in August 2024

A Timeline of the Drama

  • August 2024: "It Ends with Us" hits theaters, earning over $350 million globally.
  • December 2024: Lively files a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliatory conduct.
  • January 2025: Baldoni files a counter-suit, seeking $400 million in damages.
  • June 2025: The New York Times publishes a report on the allegations, which is later thrown out of court.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!