When two versions of the facts conflict, is it a good idea to summon the public? In any case, this is what Justin Baldoni’s lawyers saw fit to do in response to Blake Lively’s accusations of touching and harassment on the set of Never Again from his partner and director.
The lawyers published the rushes of a contentious scene, taken up by TMZ. It’s a slow dance sequence where their characters Ryle Kincaid and Lily Bloom are supposed to fall in love. Without dialogue, the scene is not without sound, and we can hear the two actors discussing anything while they dance.
“Am I getting my beard shaved today?” » asks Justin Baldoni. Blake Lively is seen laughing as she replies, “I’m probably putting self-tanning lotion on you.” And he replies: “It smells good”.
It is this last sentence which is not interpreted in the same way by the two opposing legal teams.
Professionalism or abuse?
The video exposed to the public shows the entire rushes of the three shots taken on May 23, 2023, according to the director’s lawyers. It is accompanied by an explanatory text which emphasizes that “the two characters fall in love and want to be close. Both actors behave well within the confines of the stage with respect and professionalism.”
A photo of the script is then shown, which notes that the two characters are “dancing in a bar […] and are in their world.”
Yes, but for Blake Lively’s legal team, we are not far from professionalism. On the contrary, these images confirm “to the letter” what the actress criticizes Justin Baldoni “in paragraph 48 of his complaint” filed at the end of December 2024: touching.
The lawyers claim that she is seen walking away from Justin Baldoni while he caresses her neck without her consent and that this gesture is neither indicated in the script, nor under the control of the privacy controller.
-“The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, trying to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, brushing her lips with his thumb, caressing her, telling her to how good she smells,” explain the actress’s lawyers, reports Variety.
For them, the video is “overwhelming” and highlights the particular nature of sexual harassment. “Any woman who has been touched inappropriately in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by her employer without her consent,” they said.
And they drive the point home by clarifying the situation: “Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but also Ms. Lively’s director, studio head and boss.”
While Blake Lively already accused Justin Baldoni of having orchestrated a campaign of “harassment and retaliation” to damage his reputation, his lawyers place the broadcast of this shooting scene in the same category. They call the video a “set-up” and an “unethical attempt to manipulate the public.”
Not finished
And it’s not over: Justin Baldoni’s lawyers have promised nothing less than to launch a website that will contain messages and “relevant videos that refute the claims” of Blake Lively.
Recall that Justin Baldoni filed a civil complaint in New York on January 17 against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and the New York Times after publishing an article about the alleged smear campaign. He accuses them of extortion, defamation and violation of his privacy and demands damages amounting to $400 million. At New York Timeshe is asking for $250 million.
