Justin Baldoni and the Death of Man-Bun Feminism

Article here. Excerpt:

'The entire episode reveals the flaws of the #MeToo movement. Believing all women are vulnerable to the predations of all men fails to account for the real-world messiness of how sexuality actually intersects with power. But it also reveals the flaws of the man-bun feminism Baldoni has personified for his entire career. He quite literally wrote the book on beta maleness, buying into the idea that masculinity itself is a crime that must be “undone.” Perhaps he convinced himself that women can’t be bullies but only bullied. And so he accepted Lively’s takeover of the film, which is what ultimately led to the demise of their relationship.

Legally, the two have entered a stalemate of sorts. Lively has sued Baldoni; he has sued her back; their cases have been consolidated, with the trial set for March 2026. But whoever wins, both have already lost. She might be grinning on SNL, but Lively has clearly failed in her attempt to mend her reputation using the old #MeToo script. Meanwhile, that script has also failed Baldoni. Long before Lively tried to present herself as the perfect victim, he tried to present himself as the perfect “male feminist.” And now here he is, taking his accuser to court—trying to remind the world that you can’t believe all women.'