A few days ago, it was reported that Hollywood star Blake Lively is suing It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni for sexually assaulting her on set. Looking back, there were signs. During the press tour for the movie, which focuses on domestic violence, Blake and Justin rarely interacted. They didn’t share red carpets or interviews, sparking rumors about tension between them. Yet, Blake faced the backlash. Old interviews resurfaced to ruin her image, while Justin, an advocate for domestic abuse awareness, was defended without question. Supporting a cause publicly doesn’t excuse someone from private misbehavior, yet society quickly took his side.
This brings us to a larger, troubling pattern in our Egyptian society too. When will people start believing women? Does a tragedy need to happen before their voices are taken seriously?
Far too often, women’s accusations are dismissed until it’s too late. Recent heartbreaking stories of women being murdered by their partners or other predators only back up this fatal reality: society waits for horrific proof before offering validation.
If this happened to an A-list celebrity like Blake Lively—someone with fame, resources, and a platform—what happens to women without those privileges?
This isn’t just about Hollywood; it’s about a culture that instinctively doubts women while protecting their predators, even in the face of accusations. It’s time to stop asking women to endure unimaginable pain just to be believed. We are tired of seeing innocent faces plastered on social media with heartbreaking headlines, enough is enough.
