Blake Lively has expressed her disapproval of her co-star in the film "It Ends With Us," Justin Baldoni, after the latter published raw footage of a significant scene from their film that lasted for ten minutes.
The actor's legal team released the clip in an attempt to disprove Blake's sexual harassment claims in her lawsuit.
However, according to a new report, Blake is happy that Baldoni released the video, as she believes it proves she was sexually harassed and shows how uncomfortable she was during the scene.
On Tuesday, Baldoni revealed footage from his film set with Blake, displaying exchanges between the actors, which his legal team argues undermines Blake's December 20 sexual harassment allegations against her co-star and director.
However, in a lengthy statement, Blake's lawyers applauded the release of the video, insisting it proves the allegations made in the actress's lawsuit.
Blake's lawyers told TMZ, that Baldoni's video attempt to counter damaging evidence only reinforces the claims in her lawsuit.
They stated the footage shows Baldoni repeatedly trying to kiss Lively, rubbing against her, and making inappropriate comments, which aligns with the harassment described in her complaint.
The lawyers emphasized that the video resonates with women who have experienced similar workplace harassment.
Blake's lawyers stated that Baldoni "improvised" the scene without prior discussions, making the actress uncomfortable.
They highlighted that while they were co-stars, Baldoni was also the director and her "employer," suggesting a power imbalance.
The lawyers said, "Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Blake's co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Blake's boss."
The legal team feels the actress's leaning away from Baldoni was not an act because she appeared to be in "discomfort" from being touched without her consent.
"The video shows Ms. Blake leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk," Blake's lawyers continued. "Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Blake's discomfort. They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent."
According to The Blast, the footage from the "It Ends With Us" set, shared by Baldoni's team and obtained by news outlets, shows Blake and Baldoni filming a slow-motion dance scene without dialogue.
In the video, they exchange jokes about Baldoni's nose and Blake's spray tan. Blake's legal complaint alleges that during a "slow dance scene," Baldoni made inappropriate comments while touching her neck.
However, the footage shows Blake joking about getting her spray tan on Baldoni, to which he responds, "It smells good." In his $400 million countersuit, Baldoni accuses Blake of suggesting he get plastic surgery for his nose.
The raw footage also includes the lighthearted comments about Baldoni's nose and plastic surgery.
After releasing a 10-minute clip, Baldoni's team announced plans to launch a website to address and disprove Blake's misconduct claims from the set of "It Ends With Us."
The statement emphasized that Baldoni and his team have nothing to hide and will continue to present the truth with detailed correspondence and videos.
Baldoni has also filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, as well as a $250 million libel suit against the New York Times for promoting Blake's "unverified narrative."
Business Times has reached out to Justin Baldoni for comments.
