Actress Abigail Breslin has penned a powerful essay addressing Blake Lively's recent sexual harassment lawsuit against "It Ends With Us" director Justin Baldoni, drawing parallels to her own experiences in Hollywood.
In her candid Tumblr post, Breslin, 28, expressed solidarity with Lively while reflecting on similar challenges she faced after making complaints about unprofessional behavior from a male colleague during the filming of "Classified."
"I've brought forward concerns about a male colleague and was deemed 'hysterical.' I was told my fears were figments of my imagination," Breslin wrote, describing how her reputation was damaged after speaking up.
The actress revealed that after filing a confidential complaint, she faced legal action and public defamation. "Instead of being believed and protected, a suit was filed against me for having the audacity to speak up," she stated, noting that the lawsuit was eventually withdrawn.
Breslin questioned society's tendency to discredit women who come forward with allegations. "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?" she asked in her essay.
The "Little Miss Sunshine" star also addressed the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, comparing it to a firework that "burns so bright and shocks the s—out of you but then, it burns out — just like that."
Her comments come as Lively pursues legal action against Baldoni for allegedly creating a "hostile work environment" and ignoring industry protocols during intimate scenes. Baldoni has denied these allegations through his legal representative.
Breslin concluded her essay with a powerful statement: "To change the narrative, we do not need more women to scream. We just need a lot more men to shut up and listen."