Blake Lively slams “sexist” Hollywood Reporter cover depicting her and filmmaker Justin Baldoni amid legal row

nme.com:

Blake Lively has slammed a recent The Hollywood Reporter cover for its “sexist” depiction of her battling filmmaker Justin Baldoni.The artwork for a story promising an “exclusive look behind the battle lines” amid their ongoing legal row was shared on Friday (February 21).

It sees the pair reimagined in a David and Goliath-esque scene, with Gossip Girl actress Lively slinging a cell phone at Baldoni, who is clutching an It Ends With Us book.Another landscape version illustrated by The Sporting Press includes Lively’s husband as Nicepool, a variant of Deadpool, who fans believe might be an unflattering portrayal of Baldoni.

His lawyer, Bryan Freedman – who previously said there was “no question” the character related to Baldoni, stands to the right of him in the illustration.Blake Lively vs.

Justin BaldoniAn exclusive look behind the battle lines of the #ItEndsWithUs uncivil war: https://t.co/UryXmLrDcT pic.twitter.com/r8VI1SOcNf— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 21, 2025Now, a spokesperson for Lively has shared her disappointment with the cover in a statement to The Daily Mail, saying: “The framing in this picture is outrageously insulting as it plays into every sexist trope about women who dare file a workplace complaint, turning them into the aggressor, and suggesting they deserve the retaliation that comes their way.”Social media users have also expressed shock the controversial cover was published, with one writing: “Using A.I for this gross presentation of a sexual harassment case within the workplace, how an editor said yes is beyond me.”One X/Twitter user added that “reducing a sexual harassment case to some battle of the sexes fan fiction read is a crass new low,” while another wrote: “Incredibly tired of.