Blake Lively Talks Child Pornography, Not Her 'Power Outfit' At Variety's New York Power of Women Luncheon

Blake Lively talks child pornography at Variety's New York Power of Women Luncheon April 21.

Actor and supermom Blake Lively was not amused at Variety's recent New York Power of Women luncheon when a reporter posing as a journalist asked her about the designer of her outfit. Lively executed a no-nonsense approach to her smackdown, admonishing the reporter.  

Lively was chosen as an honoree for her 'fierce advocacy against child pornography', joining singer-actress Audra McDonald, television personality Gayle King, Viacom media executive Shari Redstone and Chelsea Clinton, the vice-chair of the board at Clinton Foundation.

Lively's comments were focused on her support of Child Rescue Coalition. Given her award by Selma Hayek, Blake's speech was emotional and deeply personal.

"I would do anything to protect them, I would literally die for them without a moment's thought," Lively said of her daughters, James and Ines. After having children of her own, Lively explains that she saw the importance of protecting all kids from exploitation. "I didn't really know what child pornography as, I was afraid to ask what it was, as a mother, because it would be painful to hear," she explained. "But I felt I had to ask, and I wanted to share with you. It is the truth, and I believe if we all knew this, we would dedicate much more of ourselves to stopping it."

Coalition CEO Carly Asher Yoost says she and Lively were immediately simpatico. “We hit it off, and we’re both passionate about protecting kids,” says Yoost, who founded the nonprofit organization in 2013, in Boca Raton, Fla. “We stayed in touch, and she really wanted to help. She got us a meeting at a technology summit at Facebook.”

The actress and L’Oreal pitchwoman found out about the nonprofit at an event sponsored by the beauty brand, writes Variety. “There are millions of files all over the world being traded every single day of child pornography,” says Lively. “It’s so disturbing. A lot of these people are fathers.”

Yoost cites research suggesting that 85% of people who consume and share child pornography have abused children. It's believed that only 10% of children speak up about their abuse, with the average predator targeting an average of 50-100 children in their lifetimes. “Our mission is to protect the innocent,” Yoost says. “We try to get [the data] in the hands of law enforcement.”

By partnering with officers in 67 countries, the Child Rescue Coalition has led to the arrest of 9,000 predators, and rescued 2,084 children from active abuse. “If you proactively find these predators, you can save so many children,” says Lively.

To be honored for her focus on such life-damaging problems and then be asked by a reporter who designed her dress was more than Lively could handle. The social-media representative from 'The Today Show's Web' site asked Lively before her speech: "What's your power outfit?"

“Come on, you want to talk about an outfit here, today?” countered Lively. “No way. Come on. Come on, we’re about building women up. Come on, outfits? Would you ask a man that?” As the inquirer offered clarification, Lively continued, “But you wouldn’t ask a man what his power outfit is, I’m sorry. Like see, this is the moment that we become more aware and that we change.” She then encouraged the Today liaison to try again.

Ironically, Lively's pushback comes after a campaign in 2015 called #AskHerMore, which encouraged reporters to ask actresses about more than what they wearing on red carpets.