The legal battle between “It Ends With Us” co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has quickly situated itself as one of Hollywood’s biggest controversies. What started as behind-the-scenes tension escalated into a full-blown lawsuit, with Lively accusing Baldoni of harassment and Baldoni counter-suing for defamation.

While Lively’s claims have gained widespread media attention, a closer look at the situation suggests Baldoni is the real victim in this situation. His career and reputation are being unfairly attacked, and he has every right to fight back.

The drama began on the set of “It Ends With Us,” the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name. From 2019, reports suggested tension between Lively and Baldoni, who not only starred in the film but also served as its director and producer. Sources claimed Lively was unhappy with certain aspects of the film’s production, and when it started receiving criticism online, even before its release, she allegedly tried to distance herself from the project.

Soon after, Lively accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior on set, saying he made unwanted advances and created hostile work environments. However, Baldoni has denied all allegations, claiming Lively fabricated the accusations as a way to shift blame for the film’s struggles. In response, he filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, arguing that they orchestrated a smear campaign to ruin his reputation. 

Sophomore Molly Staniar explained why Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively makes sense.

“I think it makes sense that Justin Baldoni filed the $400 million lawsuit because Blake Lively is smearing his name and he deserves some type of compensation,” Staniar said.

While it’s easy to believe an accusation against a powerful man in Hollywood, there’s no actual evidence proving Baldoni did anything wrong. Baldoni has built his career on promoting respect and positive masculinity; he’s written books such as “Man Enough” and “Boys Will Be Human: A Get-Real Gut-Check Guide to Becoming the Strongest, Kindest, Bravest Person You Can Be.”

Additionally, Baldoni has given speeches about treating people with kindness such as his TED talk speech, “Why I’m Done Trying to be ‘Man Enough.’” 

On Dec. 9 during an awards ceremony in New York, The Voices of Solidarity Award was given to Baldoni, Vital Voices said in a statement. The award was presented by comedian Hasan Minhaj and celebrates “remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls.”

Furthermore, Lively has a lot more to gain from the situation. “It Ends With Us” faced backlash from fans for everything from the casting to its production choices. If Lively wanted to protect her image, blaming Baldoni would be an effective way to do it. Additionally, pulling her famous husband Ryan Reynolds into the fight only adds more power to her side, making it even harder for Baldoni to defend himself. 

Senior Sanai Abdullah discussed her opinion on the multiple scandals Lively has been involved in.

“I think that Blake Lively is in the wrong because she’s had scandals, like multiple scandals, against her. In the past, Justin Baldoni hasn’t had any drama or he hasn’t inserted him into any accusations like that before,” Abdullah said.

This case is more than just a Hollywood scandal, it’s about how easily someone’s reputation can be destroyed without solid proof. Baldoni’s massive lawsuit shows he isn’t just trying to clear his name; he’s trying to take a stand against false accusations. If he were guilty he’s more likely to try to settle quietly, not risk everything in court. 

In today’s world, we’re quick to believe the worst about people, especially when it comes to misconduct accusations, but we need to be fair and look at both sides before assuming guilt. Right now, the facts suggest that Baldoni is wronged, and he deserves the chance to prove his innocence.