As Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively continues, his lawyer has released behind-the-scenes footage of the actors’ intimate scenes.
The nearly 10-minute clip shows actors Lyle Kincaid (Baldoni) and Lily Bloom (Lively) slow dancing, according to footage obtained by Fox News and Entertainment Tonight. . In her December complaint against Baldoni, Lively said Baldoni “ignored established industry protocols in filming intimate scenes and took advantage of a lack of on-set supervision to engage in inappropriate behavior.” He cited this scene as evidence.
“The video below, taken on May 23, 2023, clearly refutes this characterization of Mr. Lively’s actions,” a statement from Mr. Baldoni’s legal team begins the video. “The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and wanting to get closer to each other. The two actors clearly communicated within the confines of the scene that there was a mutual respect. and act professionally and appropriately.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Baldoni’s legal representatives for comment.
In an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday, Lively’s lawyers said the release of the video was a “stunt” by Baldoni’s lawyers and a “continuation of a campaign of harassment and retaliation.” denounced.
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“While they are focused on misleading media reporting, we are focused on the legal process,” Lively’s attorney said. “We continue our efforts to demand that Mr. Baldoni and his associates answer in court under oath and not in a fabricated media stunt.”
What happened during the filming of the slow dance scene in It Ends with Us?
Behind-the-scenes footage of the slow dance scene shot in three consecutive takes shows Baldoni and Lively laughing and casually chatting as they discuss the direction of a romantic scene set in a bar. There is.
At one point during filming, Baldoni pressed his face into Lively’s neck as she danced. “Are you wearing a beard today?” Baldoni asked Lively about her facial hair. Lively responded with a laugh: “You look like you’re going to get a spray tan.”
Baldoni said Lively’s spray tan “smelled good,” but Lively explained, “Well, that’s not it. It’s my body makeup.”
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Ms. Lively claimed in her December complaint that Ms. Baldoni was “not playing the role of Lyle” in that scene and that the actors’ physical intimacy exceeded limits.
“At one point, he leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear to her neck, saying, ‘You smell so good,'” Lively’s complaint states, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY at the time. “He said,” it was written.
“Mr. Baldoni was orally caressing Ms. Lively in a way that was completely unrelated to his role. When Ms. Lively later objected to this act, Mr. Baldoni’s response was, “I’m not even attracted to you.” “I haven’t.”
Blake Lively’s lawyers slam behind-the-scenes footage as ‘horrible’
In a statement to USA TODAY, Lively’s lawyers argued that “every frame” of the behind-the-scenes footage “literally confirms what Ms. Lively said in her complaint against Baldoni.” .
“Justin Baldoni and his lawyers may be hoping this latest stunt will preempt evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,” the actress’ attorney said.
“The video shows Mr. Baldoni leaning toward Ms. Lively multiple times, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking his thumb against her lips, and fondling her. He is seen telling her how nice she smells. Then, out of character, he talks to her.
Lively’s lawyers say that Baldoni, who also directed “It Ends With Us,” acted against Lively in her role “without prior discussion or consent, and without an intimacy coordinator present.” He said that the performance was completely improvised.
Lively’s legal team added: “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning forward and repeatedly asking the characters to just talk.” “Any woman who has been touched inappropriately at work will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort.
“They will recognize frivolous attempts to deflect unwanted contact from her. No woman should have any defenses against being contacted without her employer’s consent.”
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s courtroom drama explained
Former co-stars filed suit on New Year’s Eve, rehashing the co-starring allegations: Lively’s federal lawsuit mirrors a complaint filed in California, which reads, “’Anyone Can Bury’: Hollywood’s This is documented in a viral New York Times report titled “Inside.” smear machine. ”
The Gossip Girl alum alleges that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct both inside and outside of the workplace and orchestrated a smear campaign against her in the name of that conduct.
Meanwhile, Mr. Baldoni’s $250 million lawsuit challenges the New York Times’ reporting on Mr. Lively’s allegations, saying the magazine “removed necessary context and deliberately spliced them together to mislead.” It claimed to rely on “convenient” modified communications.”
Baldoni filed a $400 million federal lawsuit Thursday against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
Contributor: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY