This article references sexual assault and abuse.
When #MeToo first ricochetted around Hollywood, we thought change was surely coming. The likes of Rose McGowan, America Ferrera, Reese Witherspoon, Gabrielle Union, and, indeed, Blake Lively all shared their experiences of sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry, building on activism originally started by Tarana Burke in 2008. If they could do it, why couldn't we?
Rather than instigating meaningful change for women (famous or not), the movement has largely been eclipsed by the alarming growth of the manosphere: a toxic cluster of online communities that embolden men and boys to perpetuate misogyny, forcing women back into the margins of public life – where their testimonies of sexual assault don't matter.
We saw this play out when Johnny Depp sued his ex-wife Amber Heard for defamation in 2022, claiming that she damaged his reputation when she wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post describing herself as a victim of abuse. Despite the fact a UK court had previously found evidence of Depp abusing Heard, the US trial triggered a campaign of vitriol towards Heard, which included celebrities and brands mocking her emotional recollection of being sexually assaulted. Ulitmately, the jury found in Depp's favour.
The trial extinguished the last flames of the #MeToo movement, with women's rights activists warning it could deter other victims of domestic abuse from seeking support, as well as potentially pave the way for perpetrators to use complex systems – in this case, defamation law – as an escalation of abuse.
When the news broke that Blake Lively is suing It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment, I braced myself for the onslaught of online misogyny I thought would be hurled her way.
When I saw Blake Lively telling young women to “wear your florals” and head to the cinema for a movie in which the entire plot revolves around domestic abuse, I was furious.
Blake, who plays Lily Bloom in the adaption of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel about surviving domestic abuse, faced criticism in August 2024 for appearing to trivialise the film's serious themes. These legitimate concerns spiralled into an online storm of resurfaced, out-of-context interview clips in which Blake came across as a ‘mean girl’. This, Blake's legal team argues, was the result of a targeted, smear campaign against her – coordinated by Baldoni's PR team.
In response, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lawyer, said “TAG PR operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources.” Baldoni's team has since filed a lawsuit against the New York Times for their report on Blake Lively's initial lawsuit. A NYT spokesperson said their story was “meticulously and responsibly reported.”
In short, it's gotten very complicated very quickly. In such situations, survivor experiences often get lost in the details. So yes, when Blake Lively spoke up, I thought, ‘Here we go again…’, expecting her to be abandoned, as Amber Heard was, by the Hollywood elite. Instead, something strange happened.
It started with Colleen Hoover and several of Blake's It Ends With Us co-stars, including Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar, sharing statements of support. What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend; I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side,” said Slate.
Blake's family and friends also shared statements of solidarity, with her Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants co-stars Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, and Alexis Bledel sharing a powerful joint statement on Instagram, which read, “We stand with [Blake] in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.”
Amber Heard was another celebrity who voiced her support for Blake. She told NBC News: "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.’ I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment.
As well as eliciting sympathy and solidarity from many in the industry, Blake's lawsuit has seemingly encouraged other famous women to share their experiences of intimidation and harassment on set.
In an Instagram video shared last Sunday, British actor Kate Beckinsale said Blake had highlighted the “machine that goes into effect when a woman complains about something legitimately offensive, upsetting, harmful, whatever, in this industry.” Kate shared that she was groped on set at the age of 18, saying she reported it to a senior cast member – “known for being a supporter of women” – who told her it “didn't happen.” Beckinsale then reported it to another female actor and said that she had been assaulted. She was allegedly told, “No, you haven't been.”
Last week, American actor Abigail Breslin, known for her performances in Little Miss Sunshine and Zombieland, wrote a powerful essay describing how a co-star sued her after she reported their “unprofessional behaviour”. She wrote, “I was told my fears were figments of my imagination. Now, as I'm seeing this pattern pop up more, I realize this is the norm,” adding, “To change the narrative, we do not need more women to scream. We just need a lot of men to shut up and listen.”
While it's encouraging – not to mention a little surreal – to see women unapologetically sharing their stories, could a second wave of #MeToo really make that much of a difference?
Over the past few years, Black women have been speaking up about their own experiences of abuse – allegedly at the hands of famous men. And yet, more often than not, their testimonies are met with disbelief, victim-blaming, and mockery.
Why did it take a video being leaked of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs assaulting Cassie for her to be taken seriously? Why was the myth of “mutual abuse” levelled at Keke Palmer? When will the internet stop making jokes about Megan Thee Stallion literally being shot? And how many famous Black women still don't have the resources or public support to speak out?
If we're approaching a #MeToo renaissance in Hollywood, we must also consider the impact on non-famous women. While the first wave of #MeToo certainly helped some individual high-profile women seek justice, it was ordinary women who bore the brunt of the backlash, whether dealing with brutal, unapologetic misogyny online or in their inter-personal relationships.
Can we act on these lessons from the first time around? I hope so. After all, Blake Lively may have sparked a new #MeToo movement, but it can't end with her.
For more information about reporting and recovering from rape and sexual abuse, you can contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre here. You can also find support at your local GP, voluntary organisations such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, and Victim Support, and you can report it to the police (if you choose) here.
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
