Abigail Breslin opened up about Blake Lively‘s legal battle and allegations about working with Justin Baldoni in a lengthy and emotional essay.
The 28-year-old actress took to social media this week to reflect on how women are treated as “scapegoats” as the behavior of men is excused.
She wrote about the situation after Blake accused her It Ends With Us costar and director of sexual harassment and engaging in a smear campaign.
Her response comes over a year after we learned that Abigail had issues with her costar Aaron Eckhart while they filmed their movie Classified. The actress’ allegations were deemed “wild, hysterical and imaginary” in a lawsuit that was filed against her by the movie’s production companies.
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“When did the word woman become synonymous with scapegoat,” she wrote in a lengthy post on Tumblr. “In light of recent events regarding the attempt to destroy the career and livelihood of a fellow actress and woman , I have felt compelled to write this, as I have unfortunately been subject to the same toxic masculinity throughout my life. In my recent career, I’ve brought forward concerns about a male colleague and was deemed ‘hysterical.’ I was told my fears were figments of my imagination. Now, as I’m seeing this pattern pop up more, I realize this is the norm.”
She continued, saying that she felt “hope in change” following the birth of the #MeToo movement in 2017. The actress added that “people were annoyed” that “they might have to change their own dehumanizing behavior.”
“There seemed to be an uprising, a new wave of recognition for those who had been abused, degraded, slandered, silenced and it was loud. But it was the kind of noise I can only liken to a firework. It can wake you up out of a sound sleep, it burns so bright and shocks the s-it out of you but then, it burns out — just like that. And when the smoke in the sky clears and the ashes and debris are swept away from the sidewalk, behind closed doors —to them— we are still just noisy women,” Abigail wrote. “So we all go about our business until the next wave of injustice comes.”
The actress said she noticed that people stopped championing those women for speaking out, saying that they’d had their time.
“As if centuries of women being underpaid, undervalued, under-appreciated, raped, harassed, terrified and used for the benefits of d-ck-wielding heroes would be erased because you commented on your second cousins #MeToo instagram saying ‘stay strong’,” she wrote.
Abigail continued, reflecting on her experience being named in a lawsuit.
“When a suit was filed against me by a former employer, (the suit was withdrawn), after making a confidential complaint against a coworker for unprofessional behavior, I had the silly and naive impression they would believe me,” she recalled. “Instead of being believed and protected, a suit was filed against me for having the audacity to speak up. I was publicly shamed and defamed in the process. A reputation I had cultivated for over 2 decades had now been tainted as I became the crazy, paranoid and to quote directly, ‘hysterical and wild’ woman, who apparently just had it in for men.”
She continued, writing, “My previous abuse was also brought up as ‘unfounded claims’, and I was made to seem like someone who just goes after men, rather than being seen as someone who has been dealing as a professional in this world, since I was a child, standing up for herself. This was after I had taken all of the recommended, reasonable and appropriate measures of reporting confidentially to my union.”
“To the public… I often wonder why are we always so excited to see the takedown of a woman? Why are we always so quick to defend a man after he is accused of bad behavior, but if a woman speaks out… she’s clearly a liar? I’d like to think it’s because we are supremely afraid to believe the truth that these things actually happen. I’d like to believe it’s some form of indoctrinated denial,” she said. “However, time and time again, I find most people believe the approval of a man is far more significant than the burden of supporting a woman. For men, it is always innocent until proven guilty. For women it is the opposite.”
Abigail also had a question for men: “If you complained about a coworker and you were called a liar… how would you feel? You probably can’t answer this because most likely, statistically, it’s never happened to you. Men are usually believed because so many ‘bosses’ are men.”
She said that women face an “impossible double-edged sword” – “If we don’t speak up, we’re weak and aiding in the problem. If we do, we are over dramatic, b-tchy, bossy, divas.”
“And so here we find ourselves again, in a vicious cycle of crucifying another woman for speaking out against a man. Watching as the world splits in two over who is telling the truth, no matter how much evidence is presented. Because how could a woman do anything but lie or exaggerate,” she wrote.
“So I ask you this: How can a man do anything but lie when he is consistently told his deceptions are gospel? Are we forever to hold the burden of being ‘perfect” to be victims and to be believed? To change the narrative, we do not need more women to scream. We just need a lot more men to shut up and listen.”
Multiple stars have spoken out in support of Blake since learning of the lawsuit.
