Abigail Breslin has voiced her thoughts on workplace misconduct following Blake Lively’s alarming legal complaint against fellow actor Justin Baldoni, her co-star in “It Ends with Us.”

In a heartfelt essay shared on her Tumblr on Saturday, Breslin expressed that she felt it was necessary to write about the situation involving the “attempt to ruin the career and livelihood of another actress and woman.” While she doesn’t specifically mention Lively or Baldoni, her essay comes shortly after Lively made allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni and accused him of engaging in a “smear campaign” against her during production.

Breslin questioned, “When did being a woman become equated with being a scapegoat? Each day as I follow the news, I realize this is the environment we appear to inhabit.” She further noted that she has faced similar challenges due to toxic masculinity throughout her life.

She recounted a personal experience where she raised concerns regarding a male colleague on a recent project, which led to a lawsuit against her after she spoke up. While Breslin did not disclose the names involved, she articulated how she was labeled “hysterical” for expressing her concerns.

In November 2023, she was sued for breach of contract by the producers of “Classified,” a film she starred in with Tim Roth and Aaron Eckhart. The lawsuit claimed Breslin refused to film alone with Eckhart, whom she alleged displayed “aggressive, demeaning, and unprofessional conduct.”

“I was told that my concerns were merely my imagination,” Breslin reflected. “As I notice this distressing trend repeating, it becomes clear that this is the standard way of things.”

Breslin Claims Lawsuit Damaged Her Reputation

In her essay on Saturday, Breslin remarked that the lawsuit from her previous employer represented retaliation for her “confidential complaint against a coworker’s unprofessional behavior.” She mentioned that although this complaint was reportedly retracted later, her reputation in the entertainment world has suffered due to the ongoing legal dispute.

“Instead of being listened to and protected, I faced a lawsuit for daring to speak out,” Breslin wrote. “I was stigmatized and publicly vilified, and my two-decade-long reputation was marred as I became labeled the overly emotional woman who had it out for men.”

“Past instances of abuse I endured were dismissed as ‘unfounded claims,’ and I was portrayed as someone who merely targeted men, instead of being recognized as someone who has navigated this industry professionally since childhood, advocating for herself. This followed my efforts to report my concerns discreetly to my union.”

The lawsuit from the producers of “Classified” further revealed that Breslin had sent a private letter to the Screen Actors Guild regarding Eckhart’s alleged conduct.

Breslin shared that the legal challenges left her with numerous questions regarding the professionals in her industry, the public perception, and men’s responses.

“I often ask myself why we are so eager to witness a woman’s downfall? Why do we rush to protect men when they face accusations of wrongdoing, but if a woman raises her voice… she is immediately deemed a liar?” Breslin pondered. “I want to believe it reflects an ingrained fear of acknowledging that such events occur. Perhaps it’s a form of collective denial.”

She concluded, “However, I consistently observe that many believe a man’s approval carries more weight than the responsibility of uplifting a woman. For men, the presumption is innocent until proven guilty, while for women, it’s quite the opposite: ‘Prove your fear.’ ‘Prove your unease.’ ‘Prove your suffering.’ This needs to change.”

Breslin wrapped up her essay with a critique of the ongoing cycle that punishes women for revealing their experiences with men: “Are we eternally expected to present ourselves as ‘flawless’ victims in order to be believed? To reshape this narrative, we don’t require more women to shout out for justice. Instead, we need far more men to listen and reflect.”

If you or anyone you know has faced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential, 24/7 support for survivors and their families in both English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org, or en Español at RAINN.org/es.