Blake AliveIt is The brand could soon become radioactive material in Hollywood after a federal judge dismissed most of its allegations in the explosive lawsuit against its former co-star, Justin Baldoni.
Several experts say this development will likely pose a threat to her star appearances in films and that she may soon “start to feel excluded from the industry.”
Meanwhile, even though sources say the judge wants Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni to settle out of court, reports claim she’s not yet throwing in the towel after her latest loss.
Blake Lively might start to feel some backlash from the industry
The long-running legal battle between “It Ends With Us” stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni took a new turn Thursday after Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 complaints the actress filed against him, including her sexual harassment allegations.
Today, brand expert Kayley Cornelius warned that the brutal blow to Lively could have far-reaching implications for her reputation in Hollywood, saying the industry can easily abandon her talent.
“It looks like a tough road lies ahead for Blake Lively,” Cornelius said. Page six. “There is a real risk that she will start to feel excluded from the industry and struggle to secure major roles or brand deals in the future.”
Cornelius went further by noting that there are a ton of actors and actresses looking for their big break, and that if an established group like Lively were to slip up, there would be no problem replacing them.
“The film industry is now incredibly fast-paced and competitive, and it often feels like a revolving door,” she noted. “As one star’s momentum fades, a whole new wave of new talent is ready to take their place.”
Speaking about the whole scandal, brand expert Cornelius noted that studios would now be skeptical of choosing a talent like Lively’s, as they look to attract more eyeballs now that audiences are “more responsive than ever.”
“With the impact of cancel culture and increased scrutiny, there is less appetite to take risks on talent that may be considered controversial or commercially uncertain,” Cornelius said. “This means that even historic names such as Blake are no longer untouchable and guarantee the security they once had.”
“It is therefore entirely possible that Blake will face stiffer competition for upcoming roles, with studios potentially favoring new talent,” she added.
Blake Lively must fight her legal battle ‘to the end’ to save her image, warns expert
Although Judge Liman dismissed most of her allegations, Lively still has a few things to work on, as three of her allegations, namely breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, will now be the subject of a civil trial in New York on May 18.
Reports claim she is “devastated” by the decision but plans to fight to the end, a decision Cornelius fully supports.
“If she’s looking to prove something and strongly support her allegations, this is probably a fight she has to fight to the end,” the PR expert said. “Stepping back or settling down too soon could be perceived by the public as a sign of doubt, or even guilt, which would only reinforce the narrative that is forming around it. »
In fact, sources say the judge seems to want them to settle out of court, but the “Gossip Girl” star wants to see the case through to the end and plans to testify in court to “shine a spotlight on this vicious form of online retaliation.”
However, Cornelius adds that it would be “smart” for her to settle down if her image continues to take a hit.
The actress has been under scrutiny since her legal battle with Justin Baldoni made headlines
Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in 2024 and also accused him of starting a smear campaign to tarnish her image.
He denied the allegations and filed a $400 million countersuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion; however, it was rejected.
Although Baldoni’s case was dropped, Lively was repeatedly criticized for past comments in unearthed clips and reportedly fell out with her famous friend Taylor Swift after Baldoni claimed she compared the singer to one of his “dragons,” like characters from the show “Game of Thrones.”
Blake Lively’s next project has a lot to do with continuing her career in Hollywood
In his 152-page opinion, Liman explained that part of the reason he rejected Lively’s claims was that the filming where the actor allegedly did so was done in New Jersey and not Los Angeles.
“None of these acts or events provide the ‘substantial connection’ to California necessary to support Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment,” he wrote.
He also noted that Lively could not file certain harassment and retaliation claims because she was an independent contractor and not an employee.
Meanwhile, Cornelius added that Lively’s successful return to the industry largely depends on the success or failure of her next major project, even if she is seeking a settlement.
She said: “It would also give him the chance to step back, reset and carefully phase his return to the spotlight. Realistically, however, it will be the success or failure of his next major project that will determine what the future of his career looks like.”