Director Paul Feig has joined the chorus of voices speaking up for “It Ends With Us” star Blake Lively following her sexual harassment complaint against co-star Justin Baldoni.
Feig, who directed Lively in “A Simple Favor” and more recently its sequel “A Simple Favor 2,” heaped praise on the actor and said she “truly did not deserve” the alleged smear campaign that Lively claims was orchestrated by Baldoni.
“I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with,” Feig posted on X, linking to a New York Times article about Lively’s complaint. “She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”
“A Simple Favor 2” is set to be released next year.
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Lively’s sister Robyn, who had a small part in “It Ends With Us” and is currently starring in “Lioness” alongside Zoe Saldana, also posted a supportive message about her younger sibling. “She is one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know,” Robyn Lively posted on Instagram as part of a longer message about the allegations. “Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions. You can certainly disagree with the marketing campaign if you want. Mistakes were made, but she isn’t the creative behind these decisions and shouldn’t shoulder the sole responsibility for them.”
The duo are the latest to lend their voices to support Lively. “It Ends With Us” author Colleen Hoover, who was a producer on the film, also shared her support for the actor on Instagram, writing alongside a photograph of the duo hugging: “You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
And Lively’s former “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” castmembers — America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel — also released a joint statement, in which they said they “stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.”
On Saturday it was revealed that Lively had lodged a lengthy complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in which she claimed that Baldoni, who directed, produced and co-starred in “It Ends With Us,” had sexually harassed her while shooting the film before orchestrating a smear campaign during its promotion.
A lawyer for Baldoni has denied the allegations, calling them “categorically false.” Following revelation of the complaint, the actor and director was dropped by agency WME, which also represents Lively.