The Hollywood Reporter’s Controversial Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni Parody Cover Slammed

Blake Lively has blasted The Hollywood Reporter for lampooning her legal battle with Justin Baldoni. The pair have been a constant presence in the headlines since the It Ends With Us costars launched legal action against each other for everything from sexual harassment to defamation. However, their very public battle has become the stuff of mockery thanks to The Hollywood Reporter’s latest cover, which is of biblical proportions. The cover image depicts a David and Goliath-inspired fight, with Lively and her slingshot taking on Baldoni. Yes, that is the level this story has now found itself at, and people have plenty to say on the matter as always.

Via The Daily Mail, Lively’s spokesperson responded to the image, saying, “The Hollywood Reporter should be ashamed of itself. 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.”

To say the cover is controversial is mild, and its exact meaning has been turned over and dissected many times on social media, with fans of the two parties making their own interpretation of the artwork depending on where their allegiances lie. For some, the depiction is the greatest thing they have ever laid eyes on, but for others, it is a parody of what is, in the end, a serious and disturbing legal case that has yet to make it to court, the result of which could have significant ramifications for those involved.

The Hollywood Reporter has a history of splashy covers, but is this latest attempt to create something appropriately eye-catching a step too far? It seems to depend completely on who you ask, but there are plenty of people willing to share their opinions on the matter.

Lively vs. Baldoni is Hollywood Sensationalism at Its Worst

As the Depp vs Heard trial proved, when celebrities are involved in legal disputes, the public demand for information becomes an all-encompassing daily routine. New headlines, delivered in a way that brings a new aspect of the case into its own spotlight, are multitudes, and they continue to grab attention whenever the latest tidbit is released. The new THR magazine cover is essentially giving the jeering crowd what they want: more sensationalism.

However, that same crowd has been quick to condemn the cover for making light of the serious legal case, in which Lively accuses Baldoni of harassment, mental abuse, and much more. At the same time, Baldoni has launched his own lawsuit, demanding compensation for being ridiculed by Ryan Reynolds through his “Nicepool” character in Deadpool & Wolverine, along with claims of defamation against publications and Lively. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Among the many comments made on the back of the release of the magazine, on X/Twitter user said, “The audacity to turn this whole case into a joke is f*cking alarming. I stand with Blake Lively because I believe her… I don’t care if people say she’s not a perfect victim or whatever bullsh*t – it really doesn’t matter. Predators should be punished.” Another followed similar lines, adding, “Incredibly inappropriate. You have a responsibility as a publication, but time and time again yours has trivialized sexual harassment and assault, among other horrible things.”

Of course, others have argued that publications have often featured artistic impressions or cartoons of serious news stories for a century, and this is just another example. Whether it sparks a reaction from either party is yet to be seen, but if it was meant to attract attention, then it had certainly done what it set out to achieve.

Source: THR