A former staff member from Blake Lively’s now-closed lifestyle company, Preserve, has come forward to share their experiences, describing the workplace as “toxic,” “non-professional,” and “confusing.”
“The whole company was an absolute disaster,” the individual stated, as reported by the Daily Mail. “It’s ironic that Blake is currently pursuing a workplace claim against Justin Baldoni when the environment here was just as chaotic and emotionally draining.”
Lively, now 37, started Preserve in 2014 as an online store for artisan home goods, but it was shut down within a year.
Another former employee expressed their view: “What I left with was the impression that she didn’t care. It was genuinely a toxic work environment.”
One staff member recalled a particular incident when Lively was scheduled for a photo shoot. Upon arriving at the location, she reportedly criticized it, saying, “It looks like an absolute mess.”
Eric Lively, Blake’s brother, was supposedly hired as the company’s creative director but was considered largely ineffective in the role.
Former team members noted they often had to sit on the studio floor while waiting for furniture deliveries. One sourced remarked, “For weeks, if not months, there were no desks. It’s ironic for a lifestyle brand that sold expensive items.”
Another former employee likened Eric’s involvement to “an actor playing a role instead of truly leading,” emphasizing the overwhelming workload they faced.
Some staff members even reported struggling to afford their metro fares due to delayed payments.
Reports indicated that some employees received settlements of up to $300,000 after threatening to take legal action concerning workplace abuse.
According to former staff, all the company turmoil was addressed by Blake’s spokesperson, Leslie Sloan, who reportedly managed the closure of Preserve.
In a recent interview, Blake reflected on her mistakes with Preserve, admitting, “I poured everything I had into the company,” but suggested there were behind-the-scenes issues that weren’t understood at the time.
Page Six reached out to Blake’s representatives for comments on these allegations but received no immediate response, nor did Eric. This comes amidst Blake’s legal battle with Baldoni over various serious accusations, including sexual harassment. They are set to appear in court in March 2026.
