Let’s kick this off with a little truth bomb: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s legal tug-of-war has everyone playing the guessing game. Since the Gossip Girl star dropped her bombshell s*xual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends with Us co-star in December 2024, the media storm has been wild—more twists and turns than any season finale.
Fast forward a bit, and it’s not just one legal battle—oh no. A 2020 racial discrimination lawsuit resurfaced, throwing even more fuel on this already blazing fire. But here’s the deal: most fans? They’re not buying it.
Well, while Lively has fans on her side, it’s hard to ignore the chorus of people doubting her claims. A lot of fans are circling the wagons for Baldoni, with some even suggesting that the race issue is a mere distraction to cover up a deeper, more complicated story. So, what’s really going on here?
It’s a hard sell when the crowd is rallying behind Baldoni, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Fans are skeptical, and that’s putting it lightly. And it seems Ryan Reynolds’ wife may have a steeper hill to climb than she anticipated.
The Backstory: The lawsuits, racial claims, and growing legal firestorm
For those living under a rock, here’s the scoop: Blake Lively filed a s*xual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni late in 2024. Fast forward a few months, and the legal clash is intensifying. But amidst this drama, a 2020 lawsuit resurfaced like an unwelcome guest at a dinner party.
The lawsuit, filed by Shane Norman—a Black executive who worked at Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios—claims he was fired for raising concerns about racial inequality at the company (via Perez Hilton). Really? Norman alleges that during the hiring process, he was told, “We need somebody here who looks like you.” Ouch.
Now, we’re not one to jump to conclusions, but when you add racism into the mix, it’s like tossing gasoline on an already out-of-control fire. The allegations are pretty ugly, but here’s where it gets murky: Wayfarer, Baldoni’s production company, denied the accusations from the get-go. And a judge even dismissed several of Norman’s claims in 2021. That’s the kind of back-and-forth that leaves you wondering: Who’s really telling the truth here?
Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: Fans are drawing lines in the sand
One thing is clear: public sentiment is not on Blake Lively’s side. Take a look at the fans’ reactions to this mess. You’d think the world was all in on Lively’s accusations, but nope, most people are shaking their heads and throwing shade at the allegations. In fact, a fan put it bluntly: “No one’s gonna believe that Justin Baldoni was annoying spiritual but also simultaneously racist.” And if we’re being real here, we can see where they’re coming from.
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Sorry Team Lively, this ain’t gonna do it.
Here’s why:
A. No one’s gonna believe that Justin Baldoni was annoying spiritual but also simultaneously racist.
B. No one believes or cares about this “racism” shit. All this tells me is the claimant got fired for legit reasons… pic.twitter.com/ANQfnkK1Ib
— Colonel Kurtz -PopCulture/ Politics/ MarilynManson (@colonelkurtz99) March 6, 2025
The fan dismisses the racism claims as unsubstantiated, suggesting that the person who filed the lawsuit (likely Shane Norman) was likely fired for legitimate reasons. The fan believes the racism allegations were only made to get a settlement or gain sympathy after being let go, implying that it’s an attempt to manipulate the situation.
They argue that most people are no longer paying attention to “race issues” and that these claims may actually backfire, ultimately making Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer, more popular or likable. Let’s read a few more comments:
It’s funny…..you don’t see Justin’s side beating down MM’s door for this $hit. Seems only BL and RR are literally trying everything they can to smear the other side and FAILING miserably. Justin’s just sitting back waiting for it to all play out. Says a LOT about BL and RR
— 🌼Trixi🌼 (@Areforkids) March 6, 2025
So lively is suing baldoni for malicious PR campaign and is openly doing a malicious PR campaign on Justin? Smdh.
— GoHowl (@go_howl) March 6, 2025
They also forget that his best friend and the head of WF is a black man. This is why no one believes the whole racist narrative anymore.
— Christy Lynn (@mexigreekmom74) March 6, 2025
I love Baldoni even more!! Laughing so hard because this shit is all backfiring. She’s more of a laughing stock than Markle.
— abc20 (@CeeCeeD3a) March 6, 2025
So, where does that leave us? It’s clear this legal battle is far from a slam dunk for Ryan Reynolds’ wife. Sure, the accusations are serious, but the road to convincing fans of Baldoni’s guilt seems paved with skepticism and doubt.
Ergo, Blake Lively’s got a tough crowd to win over, and the clock’s ticking. For now, Baldoni seems to have the upper hand, with his supporters solidifying their stance that the allegations are nothing more than a cash grab or a misunderstanding.
It Ends with Us is streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
