Why Justin Baldoni Became a Right-Wing Hero Despite His Feminist Roots

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Justin Baldoni might appear to be a controversial figure to America’s conservative groups. He initially gained popularity as a romantic lead in the satirical telenovela “Jane the Virgin,” a show known for its progressive ideas. Later, he established himself as one of the nation’s leading male advocates for feminism through his “Man Enough” podcast, which aimed to redefine masculinity.

Following allegations of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, made by Blake Lively against him, during their collaboration on the film “It Ends with Us“, he’s now distanced himself from being labeled as “woke”. Instead, he’s emerged as an unexpected figure championed by conservatives, as more commentators are expressing support for his perspective.

OR

After Blake Lively publicly accused him of workplace mistreatment, including sexual harassment, during their work together on “It Ends with Us“, he’s no longer seen as “woke”. Instead, there’s been a shift, and he’s become an unexpected figure for conservative supporters, as more commentators are now taking his side.

OR

Since Blake Lively accused him of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment, during their time working together on “It Ends with Us“, he’s moved away from the “woke” label. In fact, he’s found himself an unexpected ally for conservative commentators, as more and more people are expressing sympathy for his side of the story.

I find myself deeply connected to the essence of this matter. For me, as someone leaning right, he’s the epitome of a relatable figure in modern American life: the silenced man. On the other hand, Lively is a liberal who has garnered attention for her consistent donations towards causes coded as Indigenous and is particularly recognized for her close bond with Taylor Swift, a known adversary of President Donald Trump.

A significant factor contributing to Baldoni’s backing might be that his attorney, Bryan Freedman, has also represented various influential media figures who have been vocal about Hollywood’s ethical issues. These individuals, while not always politically aligned, are known for their truth-telling in the public eye. For instance, one of Freedman’s clients, Megyn Kelly, has commented on Baldoni’s public image, saying that his accusations of toxic masculinity are “overblown.” However, regarding Lively’s allegations against Baldoni, Kelly stated, “Time and again, she accuses him of doing something, but when you hear the full story, it’s just a minor issue!” Furthermore, Kelly has provided Freedman with a platform to respond on her SiriusXM show, such as discussing his $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which is often criticized by conservatives.

Perez Hilton, another client of Freedman, might not openly align with a particular political ideology. However, he vigorously supports the attorney who represented him in a $25 million lawsuit. On his YouTube channel (with 475,000 subscribers), Hilton’s criticism towards actress Blake Lively is intense and biased. In a recent video posted on January 22nd, he criticized Lively for her legal team attempting to impose a gag order against Freedman due to his media campaign, allegedly involving leaks to preferred media outlets, which could potentially influence a future jury. Hilton argued that Freedman’s actions are similar to those of any other attorney and considered it as standard practice.

Hilton didn’t reveal his association with Freedman, but another client, Sage Steele, the broadcaster who lost her job following contentious remarks about vaccine mandates and Barack Obama’s racial identity, has openly discussed their bond and its significance: “He was my lawyer during my dispute against Disney and ESPN over wrongful termination. I trust him with my life and closely follow everything he does and everyone he represents.” On her podcast, she criticized Lively as someone who misuses power (“it’s disheartening because it ultimately harms other women who are genuine victims of harassment”) before transitioning into a detailed analysis of her allegations.

Freedman’s supporter base transcends his high-profile clientele. (The Baldoni Man Enough podcast has been inactive since the start of his legal and PR predicament, except for a “special episode” on domestic violence featuring Freedman’s client FKA Twigs.) On her own self-titled live streaming show, the conservative commentator Candace Owens played a clip of Freedman defending Baldoni on NBC, remarking: “Now, I find Bryan Freedman quite likable. He appears to be fiercely honest. That’s my motherly instinct.” She further commented about Lively: “There seems to be a disconnect in the atmosphere here.” Most recently, following the Lively legal team’s request for a communication ban against Freedman, the conservative commentator Brett Cooper posted on X (formerly Twitter) to her 450,000 followers that “you issue gag orders when you have something to conceal.

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2025-01-24 23:55