Content warning: this article discusses sexual assault and harassment 

In a highly publicized recent case, actress Blake Lively alleged that director Justin Baldoni repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances on her, including kissing and touching beyond the agreed amount and inviting himself into her trailer while she undressed on the set of their film  “It Ends with Us” (2024). In an attempt to bury these allegations, Baldoni hired a media team to begin a smear campaign against Lively.

As a response to these assault allegations revealed in a New York Times article about the smear campaign, many took to social media to point out their animosity towards Lively, specifically connecting a dislike of her character to a belief in her credibility. 

“Yeah right. Blake is the typical mean girl,” one user commented on Instagram.

The mantra of “believe victims” often gets thrown around in the discourse surrounding sexual assault. In theory, believing victims should extend to all. However, in practice, the definition of who is considered a “victim” changes based on circumstance and, often, personality. In Lively’s case, her being a “mean girl” immediately disqualifies her as credible. By this token, victims should only be believed if they uphold the paragon of the “perfect victim” — one who has unimpeachable character and credibility and thus is blameless.

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This is not to discount criticisms of Lively’s actions and character, including her getting married on a plantation or being less than cordial with reporters. Though, an out-of-context interview should not be the full judgment of a person. Believing victims shouldn’t stop if you dislike them personally. 

Mentalities like the “perfect victim” uphold patriarchal norms around victimhood, tying morality to suffering. This theory pushes the agenda that if one acts immorally — such as being mean, dressing immodestly, drinking too much or initiating sex — they are thus deserving of whatever acts are done to them. Comments calling Lively “Snake Lively” only serve to further stigmatize those who choose to report due to the fear that if they have a blemish on their character, they will not be believed. 

This completely ignores one simple fact: People are allowed to be rude or cruel and still do not deserve to be violated. 

It should be noted that white women like Lively are far more likely to be believed than women of color. Moreover, women of color, especially Indigenous women, are not only assaulted at higher rates than white women but also less likely to see justice in their cases. 

“The reason that the ‘perfect victim’ picture is so dangerous is because it excludes the vast majority of women who are targeted for sex crimes because their perpetrators know that they won’t be believed,” said Bri Lee, author and activist, in an interview with ELLE Australia.

This strict cultural adherence is not just for women. Men who are victims of sexual assault are also suffering under this patriarchal ideal, often due to the view of threatened masculinity. 

As argued in Development and validation of the Male Rape Myth Acceptance Scale by Benjamin Hine et al., “As female victims are punished for displays of promiscuous behaviour antecedent to their assault which violate virtuous/reputational ideals, men are criticised for behaviour which contradicts masculine ideals relating to strength (e.g., failing to fight off an attacker).”  

USC has been marred with its own issues of “perfect victim syndrome.” After the slew of troubling sexual assault allegations against members of Greek life in 2021, students received an email from the school detailing how they can be more proactive against sexual assault. Advice like “make sure to cover your drinks” only shifts the blame from the perpetrator to the victim. If people neglect to cover their drinks at parties, that does not mean that they deserve to be assaulted. 

Society does not accept victims who aren’t conforming to the mold of a “perfect victim.” Accepting imperfect victims, just as there are imperfect people, is the first step to real justice in regard to sexual assault cases. This starts with education, an acknowledgment that those who are victims of harassment or assault are not at fault. 

Safety precautions like covering drinks are important but do not get to the root of the issue. Sexual assault and harassment are aspects of a patriarchal structure that prioritizes domination over equality and that the victims of this domination don’t look or act a particular way. 

The cultural shift surrounding victims of sexual assault is thankfully changing, including the scope of who counts as a victim. Lively’s personal indiscretions should not discount her validity as a victim. Believing people means believing in imperfect people. 

If you are in need of support, here are some resources you can contact: USC Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services: Located at Engemann Student Health Center Suite 356. Individuals can call (213)-740-9355 and request to speak with an advocate or counselor. Services are confidential. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: A free, confidential hotline that is active 24/7. Individuals can call (800)-656-4673