Austin, Texas – March 18, 2025 – Actress Blake Lively, already embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with director Justin Baldoni, is now facing new allegations of harassment from content creator Kaitlyn Marie Cooper. According to a post on X by Melanie King (@realmelanieking), Cooper claims she was bullied and stalked by Lively, her lawyer, nanny, assistant, security team, and even staff at the 1928 Hotel in Waco, Texas, during the SXSW weekend.
Cooper, an amateur photographer and TikTok user, was reportedly on a mother-daughter vacation at the hotel—a dream destination for her as a fan of owners Chip and Joanna Gaines—when the alleged incident occurred. She was not attending SXSW but was instead capturing photos of the hotel for Instagram when Lively and her team arrived. Cooper alleges that Lively took issue with being filmed in a public space, sparking a series of harassing actions, including alleged involvement from hotel staff.
The 1928 Hotel, located 1.5 hours from Austin, has raised questions about why Lively chose to stay there, with some speculating her presence was linked to a meeting with Joanna Gaines, a known acquaintance. Cooper, who recently suffered a miscarriage, described the experience as a “nightmare,” claiming she faced continued harassment and bot attacks on her social media accounts after the incident. She emphasized that she had no prior connection to Lively or knowledge of her stay at the hotel.
Melanie King’s post, which includes images of Lively and references to Cooper’s allegations, has sparked discussion on X, with users expressing shock and demanding accountability. While King initially reported that Cooper had sued Lively, she later clarified that no legal action has been taken yet, attributing the misinformation to another media outlet.
Chip and Joanna Gaines have not publicly responded, but their alleged staff involvement has drawn scrutiny. As the story unfolds, Lively’s team has yet to comment, leaving fans and critics divided over the escalating controversy surrounding the actress.
