Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: Clash intensifies over video evidence
The "Daily Mail" website released a video showing the filming of a scene during which, according to Blake Lively, harassment by Justin Baldoni occurred. Although the director's lawyers consider the footage as evidence of his innocence, representatives of the actress disagree.
The conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began on the set of the movie "It Ends With Us". Reports of the actors not getting along during filming surfaced in August last year. In December, it was revealed that the actress accused her co-star of sexual harassment and organising a smear campaign to damage her reputation. Her lawsuit revealed a series of allegations, including inappropriate behaviour by the director on set and abuse of power. Baldoni responded with a countersuit for defamation, demanding £310 million. He claims he is the victim and accuses Lively and her husband of an attempt to take over the film project.
A recording from the set of "It Ends With Us" was shown. Did Blake Lively stray from the truth?
The evidence in the case includes both court documents and text message conversations or recordings from the set. Baldoni's team has just published footage of the dance scene during which, according to the wife of Ryan Reynolds, the harassment occurred. The actress's testimony indicates that Justin "leaned down and slowly moved his mouth from her ear down her neck," saying she "smelled nice." Lively was convinced that the microphone was not on during the filming of the scene. However, the "Daily Mail" published a video where you can clearly hear what the film partners are saying to each other and how they behave. The material was provided to the outlet by the actor's production company Wayfarer and his lawyer Bryan Freedman, who had previously assured that Baldoni "has nothing to hide."
It is noticeable that the recordings rather show friendly relations between the stars, with them discussing how to play the scene (Blake favours more talking than displays of affection), smiling at each other, joking about the size of Justin's nose, and discussing how they spend time with their significant others. She says she and Reynolds "talk all the time", while he admits he and his wife prefer to stare at each other. Then, the actress bursts into laughter, and Baldoni compliments her and her husband, calling them "sweet" and "amazing."
We also hear that the comment about the 37-year-old's "nice smell" was a response to her remark that during a close scene, she would probably leave her self-tanning mark on her colleague. The conversation seems casual, and the star does not appear awkward about the comment on how she smells.
Blake Lively responds to the video with Justin Baldoni. The actress's lawyers are relentless
Reynolds's partner has already reacted to the video published on Tuesday. The actress's legal team claims the material is further evidence that she did not feel comfortable during the filming of the dance scene.
Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope this latest stunt will outweigh the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning. (...) Every frame of the released footage confirms, in detail, what Ms. Lively described in paragraph 48 of her complaint - reads the star's representation's statement sent to the "Daily Mail".
The lawyer points out that the video shows the director "repeatedly leaning towards Ms. Lively, trying to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, brushing her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells."
The actress's representative points out that what we see on the recording was not previously discussed with her.
Every moment was improvised by Mr. Baldoni without prior discussion or consent, and an intimacy coordinator was not present - it states.
They also remind us of Justin's strong position.
Mr. Baldoni was not only a star but also the director, studio executive, and Ms. Lively's boss.
Blake's legal team claims her "leaning away" from Baldoni during the scene was not an act, and the clips show how she "repeatedly asked to just talk."
Any woman who has been improperly touched at work will recognise Ms. Lively's discomfort. They will recognise her attempts to joke to deflect unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by an employer without her consent, the attorney indicates.
According to the representatives of Ryan's wife, sharing the recordings with the media "is yet another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate public opinion and a continuation of a harassment and retaliation campaign."
We continue our efforts to compel Mr. Baldoni and his associates to testify in court under oath, rather than through media stunts, the lawyer concludes in the statement.
Whose side are you on?
