Blake Lively incensed by Hollywood magazine's 'sexist' cover mocking her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The most recent issue of The Hollywood Reporter, featuring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's ongoing legal battle, has drawn a lot of criticism for trivializing her sexual harassment claim.

Lively has reportedly responded angrily in response to THR's "sexist" cover art which was a biblical allusion to the epic tale of David and Goliath, where a young shepherd lad overcomes a giant in defiance of the odds.

Blake Lively condemns The Hollywood Reporter's cover art depicting Justin Baldoni lawsuit

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have been in the news constantly since the 'It Ends With Us' co-stars filed lawsuits against one another from sexual harassment to defamation.

However, THR's most recent biblical cover art has turned their very public dispute into the subject of ridicule. The cover image shows Lively, like David, and her slingshot against Baldoni in a battle reminiscent of David and Goliath.

Baldoni is seen holding a copy of 'It Ends with Us' on the contentious cover, which has provoked uproar because it seems to trivialize grave claims of sexual harassment.

"The Hollywood Reporter should be ashamed of itself," a representative for the 37-year-old 'Gossip Girl' alum told Daily Mail in a statement, in response to the controversial cover art.

"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," they added.

The statement continued by saying, "In addition, the story is extremely offensive as it incredibly seems to explain away documented examples of sexual harassment and retaliation by calling them 'cultural misunderstandings'."

The cover art was a biblical allusion to the legendary tale of David and Goliath, where a young shepherd lad overcomes a giant in defiance of the circumstances.

The image in the background showed Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, dressed as Nicepool, a 'Deadpool' clone that Baldoni says Reynolds made up to "bully" him.

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's attorney, was standing opposite Reynolds on his right, his hands on his hips.

The cover is contentious and its precise meaning has been debated and dissected multiple times on social media, with supporters of the two parties interpreting the artwork differently based on their political stance.

Some people consider the portrayal to be the best thing they have ever seen, while others see it as a parody of what is ultimately a dire and unsettling legal matter that has not yet gone to trial and whose outcome might have far-reaching consequences for all parties.

Internet users criticize The Hollywood Reporter for 'turning case into a joke'

The publication's depiction of the ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has drawn criticism from social media users.

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "Is this a joke? How exactly is Blake “David” in this scenario? In this analogy her & Ryan Reynold are clearly Goliath, the only reason Baldoni hasn’t been obliterated is b/c he kept receipts & has a buddy who’s loaded & into justice."

Another user seethed, "The audacity to turn this whole case into a joke is f***ing alarming. I stand with Blake Lively because I believe her - then saw her evidence. I don't care if people say she's not a perfect victim or whatever bulls**t - it really doesn't matter. Predators should be punished."

"Isn’t the case about sexual harassment? No matter who people choose to believe, this post is f***ing gross," exclaimed a user.

Another added, "Something is actually deeply wrong with your publication that you thought this disgusting cover was even remotely appropriate. This is disturbing."

"Is this appropriate when you consider Blake filed a harassment suit? Like are we really doing dramatised covers for lawsuits that allege a woman was uncomfortable?" questioned one.

Another said, "Regardless of what “side” of the case you’re on, this is incredibly distasteful given the severity of accusations and related impact on the innocent party’s life…"

"How much money is Baldoni paying to all these magazines? At this point it starts to look terrifying," claimed one.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.