Amber Heard has weighed in on Blake Lively’s serious allegations against Justin Baldoni, offering her support in a statement shared with NBC News on December 22. Lively recently filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, creating a toxic work environment, and launching a smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
Baldoni, known for his role in It Ends With Us, enlisted the same PR crisis manager who handled Johnny Depp’s 2022 defamation trial. Heard, who witnessed the impact of such campaigns firsthand, shared her perspective: “Social media is the perfect embodiment of the saying, ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’” She emphasized the destructive nature of these campaigns, drawing parallels with her own experience. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive,” she added.
Heard, who was herself at the center of a highly publicized defamation case, pointed out the damage such campaigns can do, especially to women speaking out. In her own trial, a jury ruled in Depp’s favor, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Heard was granted $2 million in compensatory damages. She later said the verdict set back progress for women speaking out against abuse and injustice.
Blake Lively has received overwhelming support from many, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars, and A-list celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer, and Paul Feig. The New York Times uncovered additional details of Lively’s distress, revealing her claims of severe emotional suffering. She alleged that Baldoni’s actions included inappropriate behavior on set, including showing nude images of women and discussing his past pornography addiction. Lively demanded these issues be addressed, with a formal meeting involving Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
The investigation also included evidence that Baldoni attempted to manipulate public perception through a PR campaign, citing text messages and emails between Baldoni and his PR team.
Baldoni’s legal team has vehemently denied the allegations. In a statement to InStyle, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed Lively’s claims as “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.” He further addressed Heard’s comments, stating that both her and Lively’s actions were widely publicized, giving the public the opportunity to form their own opinions.