Shockingly, Blake Lively isn’t thrilled about the new Hollywood Reporter cover that depicts her launching a slingshot at Justin Baldoni, who’s helplessly clutching onto a copy of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. The artwork references David and Goliath from the Bible — David, a young shepherd boy, defeats a giant named Goliath with a slingshot. (Because everyone thinks about the Bible when they think about the Blake and Justin feud.) The controversial cover reads: “an exclusive look behind the battle lines of Hollywood’s uncivil war.”

It comes amid Blake and Justin’s never-ending legal battle that started in December 2024 when Blake accused the director of sexual harassment and retaliation. Justin then sued The New York Times over their reporting on Blake’s allegations, and he’s also sued Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for trying to “destroy” his reputation.

Blake shared her thoughts on the Hollywood Reporter cover art and story via a lengthy statement from her rep. Here’s Blake Lively’s response to the Justin Baldoni Hollywood Reporter cover.

Blake Lively Responds To The Hollywood Reporter Cover

Image Credit: Getty

In a statement to The Daily Mail, a rep for Blake slammed the Hollywood Reporter’s Blake and Justin cover. “The Hollywood Reporter should be ashamed of itself,” the spokesperson said. “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.”

The Hollywood Reporter story about Blake and Justin’s feud explores how Justin’s Baha’i faith could have “inadvertently contributed” to this It Ends With Us saga. It’s suggested that their legal battle perhaps “has less to do with gender equality than it does a simple cultural misunderstanding.” Hmmm.

The article poses the question: “What if much of it — the alleged inappropriate hugging and pre-filming praying — could be explained as a clash between a very specific faith-driven community with its unique mores, and a much more modern, post-#MeToo one with its own set of beliefs and commandments?” Listen… I’m really not a Blake fan, but attributing alleged sexual harassment to religious beliefs and an innocent “cultural misunderstanding” is a kind of a wild take to share in 2025.

Blake’s spokesperson added, “The story is extremely offensive as it incredibly seems to explain away documented examples of sexual harassment and retaliation by calling them ‘cultural misunderstandings.’” I’m with Blake and her team on this one. Maybe we stay away from “cultural misunderstanding” excuses and controversial artistic choices when it comes to sensitive stories about alleged sexual harassment.