Blake Lively: “Doing the sexual harassment training with HRoes would have saved my film”
We’re joking obviously. But, it’s true.
The Case Everyone’s Talking About
The Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni case is THE new mega court case coming out of the US. America has a knack for providing us with drama series-esque levels of entertainment from their court system. Not only do they televise, but they play out in the press to a significant extent allowing us all to pile in.
That’s part of the problem with this case though, the popular press is piling in. Everyone from Janet down the road to Kings Counsel have an opinion on the case. For those who have managed to dodge the gossip columns:
- Lively (married to Deadpool and besties with Taylor Swift) made a film with Justin Baldoni (yes, I’d never heard of him before either). (Film: It Ends With Us).
- In December 24 Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during filming. She stated that after she rejected him he orchestrated a smear campaign against her.
- Shortly after the release of the film there had been a string of very negative press regarding Lively and the film and her treatment of an interviewer.
- In response Baldoni denied the claims and sought to sue the New York Times for their publication on Lively’s allegations. He has also fied against Lively and Ryan Reyonolds (aka Deadpool) for defamation and civil extortion.
Their PR and legal teams have since been in full multi-million dollar swing. The latest being the leaking of allegedly raw footage, which Baldoni says supports his claim, Lively says it supports hers.
The Bigger Picture: The Pile-On Effect
Akin to my position on Greg Wallace, do I care who did what? Not really. Any form of sexual harassment, defamation or extortion is dreadful. Someone has done something, and it will likely come out on TV in the wash in Court, before being made into a Netflix drama.
So why am I writing about it if I don’t care? For me, it is the absolute fascination with the ‘pile on’.
Swifties, Deadpoolers and Lively fans whole heartedly believe their icons. They haven’t seen a shred of evidence, haven’t been party to conversations, legal filings or present at filming. But they believe. A bit like when you’re a child and believe in Santa…You’ve never seen him, don’t understand how it happens, but you believe with your whole heart. Until you don’t.
The most recent example that brought unprecedented levels of vilification was Depp v Heard. Or Heard v Depp, whichever it was. Amber Heard became universally HATED. And, this was before her catastrophic court appearance.
With social media, press exposure and slick media teams who know how to push our buttons, the exercise in courting public opinion in disputes is a modern phenomenon.
What Can We Learn From This?
If there are allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace, the investigation and process should be treated with utmost respect. Here’s what we should remember:
- Avoid the Popularity Contest: No-one should be courting popular opinion or fishing for supporters. We don’t just believe the people that we like, and disbelieve people that we are either not familiar with or are not as popular.
- Respect the Process: We are objective, fair and detailed. We never victimise people who raise complaints and concerns and we always make sure that everyone knows where the line in the sand is with regard to behaviour.
- Set Clear Standards: Teach your staff how to behave, and then when they fall below standard use your processes and make sure it doesn’t happen again. This is how we protect staff and comply with the duty under UK law.
Why Training Matters
If you don’t want a Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni case on your hands, then you need our CPD-accredited sexual harassment prevention e-learning course. It equips employees with the knowledge to recognise and stop inappropriate behaviour before it occurs.
The course is flexible, takes just a few hours to complete, and costs only £35 per employee. Invest in your team’s well-being and show your commitment to fostering a respectful workplace. Book your quick demo here!