Blake Lively has broken her silence on the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal, insisting it’s ‘important that women are furious right now’.
The actress, 30, has known the disgraced Hollywood mogul, 65, for some time, notably appearing together on a panel workshop for high school students about careers in the movie industry alongside Michelle Obama in November 2013.
At least 30 women in the film business have accused Weinstein of rape, groping and sexual harassment, but the Green Lantern star has spoken about her time working alongside him, insisting she ‘never’ experienced anything inappropriate.
Speaking out: Blake Lively was seen arriving at New York’s JFK Airport on Thursday morning as she broke her silence on the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal
Speaking in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Blake said: ‘That was never my experience with Harvey in any way whatsoever.
‘I think that if people heard these stories… I do believe in humanity enough to think that this wouldn’t have just continued. I never heard any stories like this – I never heard anything specific – but it’s devastating to hear.’
Blake – who raises daughters James, two, and Ines, 13 months, with actor husband Ryan Reynolds, 40 – insisted it’s ‘important for women to be furious’ and also detailed her own experiences of sexual misconduct.
She added: ‘It happens to women all over the place, all the time, to the point where women don’t even think that this is a real assault.
Shamed: The actress, 30, has known the disgraced Hollywood mogul, 65, for some time (pictured at the 2017 TIME 100 Gala in New York City in April)
‘It’s devastating to hear’: The pair appeared together on a panel workshop for high school students about careers in the movie industry alongside Michelle Obama in November 2013
‘I’ve had plenty of things happen to me whether it be trying on a dress for prom at some clothing store, to a director being inappropriate, to a guy walking down the street where you don’t think, “Oh well, that wasn’t actually sexual assault”.
‘It’s important that women are furious right now. It’s important that there is an uprising.’
The former Gossip Girl star implored society to look at the larger picture in the wake of the scandal and realize that sexual assault ‘happens in every single industry’.
More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Weinstein, the man once described as ‘God’ of the film industry.
Disgraced: At least 30 women in the film business have accused Weinstein of rape, groping and sexual harassment over a three-decade period (pictured with Blake in September 2009)
The accusations, including from some of the world’s most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape over a three-decade period.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Cara Delevingne, Kate Beckinsale, Lea Seydoux, Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd and Rosanna Arquette are among the high-profile names to have come forward.
Weinstein is currently believed to be heading to The Meadows, a treatment facility in Arizona with a focused 45-day inpatient program for sex addiction and behavioral issues.
The movie mogul was fired by the board of his production company, The Weinstein Company, on Sunday.
‘That wasn’t my experience’: The Green Lantern star has spoken about her time working alongside Weinstein, insisting she ‘never’ experienced anything inappropriate
Doting mother: As Blake released her comments on the sex scandal, she was pictured arriving at JFK Airport on Thursday morning with her daughters James, two, and Ines, 13 months
Low-profile: The star appeared to be attempting to go incognito, covering up in sunglasses and a felt fedora
His wife of 10 years, English fashion designer Georgina Chapman, 41, announced she was leaving him on Monday, deeming his actions ‘unforgivable’.
On Tuesday, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) suspended his membership from the organization, while a DailyMail.com exclusive revealed the FBI had opened an investigation into the producer.
As Blake released her first comments on the sex scandal, she was pictured arriving at New York’s JFK Airport on Thursday morning with her young daughters James, two, and Ines, 13 months.
The star appeared to be attempting to go incognito, covering up in sunglasses and a felt fedora.
Jet-setter: Blake wore head-to-toe black, in a sweater, coat and cropped jeans, completing her look with a pair of black leather embroidered Gucci loafers and a large quilted bag
Under the radar: The former Gossip Girl star was pictured arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday to board her flight to New York
Blake wore head-to-toe black, in a sweater, coat and cropped jeans, completing her look with a pair of black leather embroidered Gucci loafers and a large quilted bag.
The actress has spent the last few days promoting her latest movie, thriller All I See Is You, in Los Angeles.
In All I See Is You, Blake stars as Gina, a blind woman who lost her sight at a young age and who now lives with her doting husband James (played by Australian actor Jason Clarke, 48) in Bangkok, Thailand.
When a medical procedure returns her sight, Gina is ecstatic to be able to live a fuller life with the man who’s always stayed by her side.
But the gift of sight also opens the couple’s eyes to a new truth; their marriage isn’t quite what it always seemed to be.
Blake shot to fame a decade ago, portraying privileged Manhattan teen Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl.
Talented: The actress has spent the last few days promoting her latest movie, thriller All I See Is You, in Los Angeles
Happy family: Blake raises her two daughters, James, two, and Ines, 13 months, with actor husband Ryan Reynolds, 40 (pictured in December 2016)