Amber Heard Sides with Blake Lively Amid Allegations Against Justin Baldoni

Amber Heard has publicly expressed her support for Blake Lively amidst the actress’s allegations of sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film “It Ends With Us.” Lively filed a complaint on Friday, accusing Baldoni of attempting to smear her reputation and alleging he hired the same crisis PR team that represented Johnny Depp during his highly publicized 2022 defamation trial.

Heard: Social Media Amplifies Lies

“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,’” Heard said in a statement to NBC News. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”

Heard’s comment comes in the wake of Lively’s lawsuit, which alleges Baldoni orchestrated a campaign to discredit her after she raised concerns about his on-set behavior. The 2022 defamation trial between Depp and Heard resulted in a jury ruling in Depp’s favor, awarding him $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.

Allegations Against Baldoni

Lively’s complaint includes text messages and emails allegedly revealing Baldoni’s PR team’s plan to counter negative publicity surrounding her. The filing claims subcontractors were hired to create and spread damaging content online, targeting Lively’s reputation.

A text exchange cited in the complaint appears to show members of Baldoni’s team celebrating when social media users began criticizing Lively. One team member allegedly wrote to another, “Mr. Baldoni doesn’t realize [sic] how lucky he is right now we need to press on him just how fucking lucky.”

Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, called Lively’s claims “shameful” and “categorically false.” He argues that the public has access to all relevant information, suggesting that any negative perception of Lively stemmed organically from their actions, not a manipulated campaign.

Support for Lively Grows

Several prominent figures have publicly expressed their support for Lively since the lawsuit was filed, including:

• Colleen Hoover, author of “It Ends With Us,” praising Lively’s honesty, kindness, and patience.
• Lively’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, condemning Baldoni’s alleged actions and hypocrisy.
• Director Paul Feig, stating his belief that Lively did not deserve the smear campaign.

Lively’s complaint alleges a meeting took place in January to address her concerns, attended by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. During the meeting, Lively claims Baldoni discussed her weight, pressured her to reveal personal beliefs, and engaged in inappropriate conversations about his sex life. She also reportedly requested the removal of additional sex scenes from the film, a request supported by Sony Pictures, according to the complaint.

This developing story continues to unfold. Stay tuned for further updates.

**Want to learn more about workplace harassment?** Visit the website of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for resources and information.