Celebrities

Blake Lively Slammed for Sharing Mother’s Trauma at TIME100

Published 7 hours ago on Apr 26, 2025

Blake Lively Faces Backlash for Sharing Mother's Trauma During TIME100 Gala Speech.

Blake Lively, best known for her role in Gossip Girl, has found herself at the center of controversy after her emotional speech at the 2024 TIME100 gala. Honored as one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people, Lively used her platform to share a deeply personal story about her mother’s past trauma. However, the moment has been widely criticized online, with many accusing the actress of making an “obvious PR move” during a particularly turbulent time in her career.

The event, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, celebrated some of the world's most influential figures. Lively, 37, attended the gala alongside her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, and her mother, Willie Elaine McAlpin, 77. Dressed in a shimmering red off-the-shoulder gown, the actress made a striking entrance. Yet it was her speech, not her fashion, that dominated headlines.

In a video shared across social media, Lively addressed the audience, stating she had "so much to say about the last two years" but insisted that the gala was "not the forum." This statement came amid her ongoing bitter court battle with director and actor Justin Baldoni, whom she has accused of sexual harassment — allegations Baldoni has firmly denied.

Instead of directly referencing the lawsuit, Lively shifted focus to broader issues facing women today, using her mother's harrowing experience as a poignant example. She revealed that her mother survived an assault by a coworker years ago when she was a young mother of three.

"My mom never got justice from her work acquaintance who attempted to take her life when she was the mother of three young kids, years before I was born," Lively shared emotionally. She credited a woman’s testimony, heard over the radio, with saving her mother’s life by offering her the strength and knowledge to survive.

"The woman painfully and graphically shared how she escaped," Lively explained. "Because of hearing that woman speak about her experience, instead of shutting down in fear and unfair shame, my mom is alive today. She was saved by a woman whose name she'll never know."

In her speech, Lively reflected on the unspoken burden women often carry. "We don't let our daughters know, but one day we break their hearts by letting them in on the secret that they are not and will likely never be safe at work, at home, in a parking lot, in a medical office, online — in any space they inhabit," she said.

Calling the endurance of women a "superpower" and a "basic human right," Lively praised not only women but also men who show kindness and support. She thanked her husband Ryan Reynolds for being "kind and good when no one is watching," and concluded by honoring communities across all spectrums who "fight every day just to be safe."

Despite the powerful message, many fans and critics were quick to accuse the star of opportunism. Some pointed out her silence on domestic violence when promoting her recent film It Ends With Us, directed by and starring Justin Baldoni, which portrays an abusive relationship.

"Now she is using her mother’s trauma to be likable? But in August she didn’t mention domestic violence when promoting a movie about it. Interesting," one critic commented online.

Another added, "Blake Lively used her Time100 speech to reveal her mother is a rape survivor — an obvious PR move to align with SA victims. Yet with that personal connection to trauma, she still couldn’t figure out how to market a movie about DV?"

The criticism extended beyond her perceived inconsistency. Some accused Lively of subtly tarnishing Baldoni's name by speaking on themes of assault and survival amid their ongoing legal battle, despite claiming she wouldn’t address her lawsuit directly.

Megyn Kelly, conservative journalist and former Fox News anchor, was particularly vocal in her disapproval. Speaking to DailyMail.com on the red carpet, Kelly lambasted Lively’s presence at the event, calling it a "ridiculous joke."

"I think Blake has launched a fake Me Too allegation against Justin, and she's lived to regret doing it," Kelly said. "Virtually every allegation she has made has fallen apart. So for her to be honored for doing that, to try to ruin a man over absolutely nothing, is a scandal."

Lively’s legal entanglements with Baldoni continue to escalate. Recently, new lawsuit filings alleged that Baldoni’s production company and publicist accused former publicist Stephanie Jones of conspiring with Lively to leak sensitive text messages. In retaliation, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation suit against Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds — all of whom deny the allegations — as well as a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times.

In her TIME100 speech, Lively briefly addressed the volatile public climate, stating, "In a time where the most valuable currency seems to be anger, it feels like an act of defiance to commune and celebrate all the good that is alive in the world."

She stressed the importance of living authentically, noting, "How we use [influence] matters. Who and what we stand up for, and what we stay silent about, what we monetize versus what we actually live, matters."

Despite the speech’s intended uplifting message, many felt the timing and content came across as self-serving. The online discourse continues to rage, with Lively's every move — both personal and professional — now under intense scrutiny.

As the fallout from her TIME100 appearance intensifies, one thing is certain: Blake Lively's moment in the spotlight has sparked far more controversy than celebration.

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