Blake Lively is speaking out amid her legal battle against Justin Baldoni after she released a never-before-seen video showing what it was like on the It End’s With Us set.
A legal team representing the actress, who is suing her director-co-star for sexual harassment and violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Civil Code, said on January 21 that the 10 minutes of alleged raw footage “This confirms” what Ms. Lively described in her lawsuit.
“Justin Baldoni and his attorney may be hoping that this latest stunt will outweigh the damaging evidence against them, but the video itself is damning,” his lawyers told E! News on Tuesday. The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth on her neck, and brushing her lips with his thumb. Caressing them, caressing them, telling them how good they smell. And talking to him out of character.”
The Gossip Girl alumnus’ legal team alleged that every moment of the scene was improvised by Mr. Baldoni without any discussion or prior consent, and that no intimacy coordinator was present.
Their statement continued, “Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but also the director, head of the studio, and Ms. Lively’s boss.” “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking to speak to the characters.”
Lively’s lawyer said, “Any woman who has been touched inappropriately in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. They will recognize her lighthearted efforts to avoid unwanted touching. Any woman who has been touched will Defensive measures should not be taken by their employers without their consent.”
In their statement, Lively’s team also accused the Jane the Virgin star of presenting an “unethical attempt” to manipulate the public by releasing behind-the-scenes footage.
Baldoni’s legal team defended the move on Tuesday, saying the actor and his associates, who are facing a lawsuit by Lively, have the right to defend themselves by putting forward their version of the facts and evidence.
Baldoni’s lawyer said, “Ms. Lively wants very different standards applied to her, but fortunately, truth and authenticity apply to everyone and can never be wrong.”
The footage in question shows both Lively and Baldoni speaking about their characters, Lily and Ryle, while filming a romantic slow-dance sequence. The conversation between the two ranged from Lively making fun of Baldoni’s nose to joking about the smell of her spray tan making her co-star uncomfortable. In the footage, Baldoni laughs at both comments.
Also read: Old video of awkward conversation resurfaces amid Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle
