Among the early supporters of Lively was former Bachelor star and podcast host Nick Viall. He had previously criticized Baldoni last August for enlisting the services of renowned crisis manager Melissa Nathan—the same agency that represented Johnny Depp during his contentious defamation trial against Amber Heard. This criticism came as public sentiment began to shift against Lively amidst the film’s release, fueled by rumors of behind-the-scenes tensions between her and Baldoni.

Viall is not alone in his defense of Lively, who has bravely detailed her troubling experiences during the production and promotion of the Colleen Hoover adaptation. She has revealed shocking claims of alleged sexual harassment and a coordinated smear campaign aimed at tarnishing her reputation. Meanwhile, Baldoni and his team have firmly denied these allegations, labeling the lawsuit as a desperate attempt to rectify her damaged public image.

On the same day, the New York Times published an article outlining alleged private messages that purportedly detail the smear campaign against Lively.

Heard has also weighed in, reflecting on her own experiences with a PR campaign orchestrated by Nathan’s agency following her divorce from Depp and his subsequent defamation lawsuit, stating, “I witnessed this firsthand” and “it is horrifying.”

“Social media epitomizes the adage, ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on,’” she remarked in a statement obtained by NBC News today. “I have seen this up close, and it is as frightening as it is dangerous.”

In a recent TikTok video, Nick Viall clarified that he is “not here to gloat,” despite having called out Justin Baldoni back in August. As Blake Lively faced significant online backlash, Viall too was criticized for questioning Baldoni’s decisions.

“I’m not here to brag; I’m genuinely pleased that the truth is coming to light about this situation and, more importantly, about how wrong many were about Blake,” Viall stated during his TikTok update.

He further challenged those who continue to doubt the actress, suggesting that their biases may stem from personal experiences or superficial attractions, urging them to truly engage with her lawsuit documentation.

“The legal filing is filled with screenshots and evidence that paint a detailed picture of who Justin really is, rather than the persona he projects,” he asserted.

For Viall, the first red flag regarding Baldoni appeared back in January 2023, moments before his lengthy interview with Baldoni during a rainy day in LA last August, which is why he latched onto the term “fake.”

As Viall recounted, he had stepped outside for a moment, and upon returning, found Baldoni in the room but seemingly unprepared. He described Baldoni as meditating in a setting filled with people, which struck Viall as odd.

“I think meditation is fantastic, but it’s something personal, not a performance for an audience,” he argued. “Why not do that in your car? It’s pouring rain, and the vibes outside are perfect.”

From that point on, Viall admits he grew increasingly suspicious of someone who would perform meditation for the sake of others. He questioned, “What else is he doing for an audience?” and that mindset framed his approach to the interview.

During Baldoni’s promotional appearances for the film, he often emphasized a women-first perspective regarding the difficult themes of domestic abuse depicted in the book and movie.

“So throughout the interview, I genuinely wanted to determine if he truly believed in the issues he was discussing. Did he even grasp the material?” Viall elaborated in his recent comments. “To be honest, his responses felt incredibly disingenuous.”

“My major takeaway is that this guy falls short. I left feeling that he is merely cosplaying as an ally rather than genuinely being one,” he added.

Viall then shared that he sought validation for his concerns about Baldoni from others in his circle, which led to someone pointing him to an engagement video Baldoni had made for a former girlfriend, which was still available on the filmmaker’s YouTube channel.

“The video is essentially 20 minutes of Justin making his then-girlfriend watch pre-recorded footage of him acting and doing skits; it had absolutely nothing to do with their relationship—it was solely about him,” Viall described the content of the video.

He continued, “Ask yourself, how does a man who made his career about amplifying, highlighting, and celebrating women in his engagement video turn the spotlight solely on himself while including his future wife as part of the audience?”

Viall also noted that the cast of It Ends With Us appears to have distanced themselves from Baldoni in light of the unfolding issues between them over the past few months, raising further doubts about his professed commitment to women’s empowerment.

In August, Viall gained attention for questioning why Baldoni had opted to hire a crisis PR team amid the emerging stories about the film’s production. He challenged why Baldoni was not actively defending women—particularly Lively—from online harassment.

“Why is a person who frequently advocates for listening to and protecting women not standing up for Blake against the online vitriol she faced?” he asked. “Instead, why is he hiring a crisis PR team known for damaging the credibility of other women?”

Nearly two decades after The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants catapulted Blake Lively to stardom, it appears that genuine sisterhood can withstand the test of time and adversity.

In a remarkable show of solidarity, Lively’s co-stars from the film—America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel—issued a heartfelt joint statement publicly supporting her following the shocking allegations outlined in her lawsuit.

“As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she confronts this reported campaign aimed at dismantling her reputation,” the trio expressed in their statement shared on Instagram.

“Throughout the filming of ‘It Ends With Us,’ we witnessed her summon the courage to advocate for a safe workplace for herself and her colleagues on set, and we are appalled to learn of the premeditated and vindictive efforts to discredit her voice,” they continued.

“Most upsetting is the blatant exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ narratives to silence a woman who requested safety,” they added. “The hypocrisy is astounding.”

The statement concluded, “We are struck by the reality that even when a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face severe repercussions for daring to demand a safe working environment.”

“We are inspired by our sister’s bravery in standing up for herself and others. For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this critical conversation online,” they wrote, encouraging readers to “please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times.”

The bond formed between the four women in the 2005 film and its 2008 sequel remains unbroken, with the squad recently coming together to celebrate Ferrera’s Oscar-nominated breakout performance in Barbie last year.