The ongoing disagreement between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively regarding events that occurred during the filming of their hit movie, “It Ends With Us,” persists. This production was overseen by Baldoni’s studio, Wayfarer.
On Tuesday, attorney Bryan Freedman for Baldoni and his PR team shared exclusive behind-the-scenes videos with various news outlets, starting with the Daily Mail. These clips supposedly contradict several accusations made against Baldoni by Lively. The footage focuses on a scene from the movie where their characters are seen slowly dancing in a bar, which sets the stage for their growing romance. However, due to intentional editing, the audience can’t overhear their conversation.
I, [Gamer’s Name], filed a lawsuit this month in the federal court of the Southern District of New York against Baldoni, Jamie Heath (CEO of Wayfarer), Jennifer Abel (publicist), and Melissa Nathan (crisis PR consultant). Baldoni not only directed but also starred in the movie, which is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. Sony took over its distribution and marketing following a partnership with Wayfarer.
Lively’s grievance alleges that Baldoni engaged in sexual misconduct, and further claims that he and his allies orchestrated a defamatory campaign against her. (He submitted his own complaint last week against Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds, demanding at least $400 million in compensation for damages.)
As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: During the slow-dance scene, Baldoni let the cameras keep rolling and had us (the actors) perform naturally, but he didn’t play Ryle. Instead, he talked to Ms. Lively off-script as himself. In simpler terms, the dialogue wasn’t scripted, which meant I didn’t have a chance to prepare for it.
At a certain moment, he moved closer and gently traced his mouth from her earlobe to the nape of her neck while saying, ‘It’s so fragrant,’ she went on, speaking in her professional tone.
In a recent share to the Daily Mail, my team unveiled an approximately 10-minute video excerpt, spotlighting three takes from our dance sequence. According to Freedman’s assessment, this footage underscores that both actors were staying true to their characters and demonstrating “mutual respect and professionalism.” As a dedicated fan, it’s thrilling to witness such dedication on set!
Yet, there’s room for different perspectives regarding this situation. On multiple occasions, Lively avoids Baldoni’s advances by turning her head away and insists that they should talk instead, suggesting a more suitable method for expressing the blossoming affection between them.
In this scenario, it can be seen differently depending on one’s point of view. Lively frequently evades Baldoni’s kisses by turning her head and emphasizes that talking is a better approach to conveying the development of their romantic feelings.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Lively’s legal team stated that every frame of the released footage supports the actress’ assertions, implying that these videos were orchestrated publicity stunts rather than genuine events. The actress-producer is represented by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Willkie Farr & Gallagher law firms.
Moving forward, they noted, “Justin Baldoni and his legal team might think that this recent maneuver will preempt damaging proof against him; however, the video itself is incriminating. Each frame of the disclosed footage aligns perfectly with what Ms. Lively detailed in Paragraph 48 of her Complaint. The video depicts Mr. Baldoni persistently approaching Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, brushing his lips against her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth on her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, complimenting her on her smell, and engaging in conversation that was out of character for him. All these instances were spontaneous actions by Mr. Baldoni, done without any prior discussion or consent, and without an intimacy coordinator present.
Additionally, they point out that Baldoni held a significant role in authority; not just as her fellow actor, but also as the film’s director, the CEO of Wayfarer, thereby placing him in a supervisory position over her.
The video displays Ms. Lively pulling back repeatedly and asking the characters to simply converse. Women who have experienced inappropriate workplace touching will likely identify with her unease. They may recognize her attempts at humor as an effort to divert such unwanted contact. No woman should be compelled to implement protective strategies to prevent being touched by their employer without permission, says her legal team.
This case is currently undergoing litigation in federal court. Sharing this video with the media instead of using it as court evidence is yet another instance of unscrupulous tactics aimed at influencing public opinion. It also constitutes part of an ongoing pattern of harassment and retaliation.
Freedman is known for his bold approach when it comes to legal matters. Although he hasn’t yet directly addressed Lively’s lawsuit on behalf of Baldoni and other defendants, he has filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing them of collaborating with Lively’s PR team to promote an “unsubstantiated and self-beneficial story,” while overlooking evidence that contradicted her statements. Additionally, Freedman and Baldoni have decided to include Disney and Marvel Studios in their legal actions, claiming that Reynolds used the character Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine to ridicule him.
On Tuesday night, when asked about the claim that the release of the footage was a “media stunt,” Freedman stated through THR, “Before filing her lawsuit, Miss Lively attempted to publicly discredit Justin Baldoni at The New York Times. When Baldoni responds by sharing facts and proof to defend himself, for Lively and her team, this is suddenly unethical. Lively desires a different set of rules to apply to herself, but fortunately, truth and authenticity are universal and cannot be wrong. Given the video and upcoming evidence, it’s clear why Lively might not want this to unfold publicly.
On our end, Lively’s lawyers stated, “We’re busy addressing misleading media stories, while they seem preoccupied. Our priority is the legal procedure, and we’re determined to make Baldoni and his team face court proceedings honestly, under oath, rather than through contrived media spectacles.
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2025-01-22 10:26