Blake Energetic‘s emotional TIME100 Gala speech, where she shared her mother’s assault survival story, has come under scrutiny.
Critics are accusing the actress of using personal trauma for publicity amid her legal feud together with her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.
Some individuals took to social media to indicate Blake Energetic’s silence on domestic violence while promoting the movie, noting that she seemingly avoided discussing the subject before her lawsuit.
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Blake Energetic Speaks About Her Mother’s Assault During Emotional TIME100 Speech
Energetic has come under fire following her speech on the TIME100 Gala, where critics accused her of using deeply personal family history for publicity.
The actress was honored as one in all TIME magazine’s 100 most influential figures and delivered a heartfelt speech at the celebrated TIME100 Gala held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC on Thursday.
During her address, Energetic selected to focus on her mother’s painful past, revealing that a colleague had once assaulted the 77-year-old.
“I actually have a lot to say in regards to the last two years of my life, but tonight will not be the forum,” she began, per the Day by day Mail. Energetic then spoke about “the sensation of being a girl who has a voice today.”
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She credited her mother, Willie Elaine McAlpin, for having “influenced most,” noting that her strength helped shape her into the girl she is today.
Energetic then explained that her mom endured a horrific act of violence that just about cost her life, and described the incident as “the worst crime someone can commit against a girl.”
She shared: “My mom never got justice from her work acquaintance who attempted to take her life when she was the mother of three young kids years before I used to be born.”
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The Actress Talked About Her Mother’s Survival
In an emotional moment, Energetic recalled how her mother’s survival was due to one other woman who, years earlier, had bravely shared her own story on the radio.
“The lady painfully and graphically shared how she escaped. And since of hearing that woman talk about her experience as a substitute of shutting down in fear and unfair shame, my mom is alive today,” Energetic said. “She was saved by a girl whose name she’ll never know.”
The “Gossip Girl” alum reflected on the quiet solidarity between women, calling it a “pact that privately we must show others methods to survive, literally or spiritually.”
She then made an statement in regards to the harsh realities girls eventually face, contrasting them with childhood innocence.
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“‘We do not let our daughters know,” she said. “But someday we break their hearts by letting them in on the key that we kept from them as they pranced around in princess dresses that they aren’t and can likely never be protected at work, at home, in a car parking zone in a medical office, online — in any space they inhabit physically, emotionally, professionally.”
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Critics Slam Blake Energetic For Using Her Mother’s Trauma To Be ‘Likable’
In her speech, Energetic described the strength and resilience of ladies as a “superpower of female triumph.”
“Never underestimate a girl’s ability to endure pain,” the actress added.
Nevertheless, Energetic’s remarks, which quickly circulated on social media, drew mixed reactions, with many questioning the timing and intent behind the disclosure.
While some praised the actress for her vulnerability and tribute to her mother’s strength, others accused her of using the moment for image rehabilitation, particularly in light of her ongoing legal dispute together with her “It Ends With Us” director and co-star, Justin Baldoni.
Critics quickly identified what they saw as hypocrisy, with one writing: “Oh so now she is using her Mother’s SA to be likable??? But in August, she didn’t mention DV when promoting a movie about DV. Interesting.”
One other wrote, “Blake Energetic used her Time100 speech to disclose her mother is a rape survivor—an obvious PR move to align with SA victims. Yet, with that private connection to trauma, she still couldn’t determine methods to market a movie about DV. What’s next for her, a Peace Nobel Prize?”
Others criticized her indirect reference to Baldoni, with an individual saying: “Incredible how Blake Energetic claims she’s not going to talk on her legal mess with Justin Baldoni—yet still manages to stain his name by casually tying him to a speech about rape and shame!”
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Megyn Kelly Called Out The Actress On The Red Carpet Of The TIME100 Gala
Before giving her speech on the event, Energetic found herself being heavily criticized by Megyn Kelly over her sexual harassment suit against Baldoni.
Walking the red carpet, Kelly, who was also listed within the publication’s elite list like Energetic, voiced her opinion on the mother of 4 and her legal drama.
The journalist stated that it was a “ridiculous joke” that the actress received the glory, adding that she “should not be here.”
Kelly also suggested that the accusations Energetic made within the sexual harassment suit filed against her “It Ends With Us” co-star were false and have unraveled because the case was filed in December.
Blake Energetic And Justin Baldoni’s Feud Escalates Over Alleged Conspiracy And Fake Conspiracy
The backlash comes as the continuing legal saga between Energetic and Baldoni took one other unexpected turn this week.
On Thursday, 14 latest allegations were filed, targeting Baldoni’s former publicist, Stephanie Jones.
Baldoni, 41, through his production company Wayfarer and current publicist for “It Ends With Us,” Jennifer Abel, launched claims that include breach of contract, defamation, fraud, and even violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
In keeping with the filings, Jones is accused of accessing Abel’s private communications without permission and conspiring with Energetic in what Baldoni’s team is looking an “abuse of process,” allegedly using a fake lawsuit to fabricate a subpoena and conceal the proven fact that Jones can have leaked sensitive information to Energetic.
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Baldoni has since filed a $400 million defamation countersuit against Energetic, her publicist, and husband Ryan Reynolds, all of whom deny the allegations, in addition to a separate $250 million libel lawsuit against The Latest York Times for its coverage of Energetic’s accusations.
