Abigail Breslin shared her experiences and the challenges women face when speaking out against sexism and abuse in Hollywood, following Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
In an emotional Instagram and Tumblr post, the Little Miss Sunshine actress recalled facing backlash after filing a lawsuit for addressing “unprofessional behavior” by a male co-star. Breslin’s statement seemed inspired by recent allegations against Baldoni, which also prompted Kate Beckinsale to speak about her experiences with misogyny in the industry.
Breslin reflected on being labeled “hysterical and wild” after reporting misconduct through the proper channels. She shared that, after confidentially reporting the issue to her union, she was dismissed and told her concerns were “figments of my imagination.” Additionally, her past history of domestic abuse was used against her to undermine her claims.
Though Breslin did not name specific individuals or projects, her post aligned with her involvement in a November 2023 lawsuit related to the film Classified. The film’s producers had sued her, claiming her allegations could harm its release. Breslin revealed the lawsuit was eventually dropped.
The actress expressed disappointment over the lack of progress since the #MeToo movement, writing, “When the smoke in the sky clears and the ashes and debris are swept away from the sidewalk, behind closed doors — to them — we are still just noisy women.”
She also criticized societal double standards and social media’s tendency to defend men accused of misconduct while disregarding women who speak up. “It leads us to the impossible double-edged sword we face every day,” she said. “If we don’t speak up, we’re weak and aiding in the problem. If we do, we are overdramatic, bitchy, bossy, divas.”
Breslin concluded by questioning why women are always expected to prove their claims, asking, “Because how could a woman do anything but lie or exaggerate?”
