Justin Baldoni promises to launch website of…
Justin Baldoni is making his subsequent transfer in his ongoing legal battle in opposition to Blake Lively.
On Tuesday, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, introduced plans to launch a website to additional show their protection that Baldoni, 40, didn’t sexually harass Lively, 37, on the set of “It Ends With Us.”
“Justin Baldoni and team have nothing to hide,” Freedman stated in a assertion to The Post, noting that the uncooked footage from the film that Baldoni’s group not too long ago launched “proves this.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in “It Ends With Us.” ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
“Justin and team have the right to defend themselves with the truth and this is what we will be continuing to show with the upcoming website containing all correspondence as well as relevant videos that directly quash her claims,” Freedman added.
Justin Baldoni on “Today” in Aug. 2024. Nathan Congleton/NBC by way of Getty Images
The on-set footage from “It Ends With Us” that’s referenced in Freedman’s assertion was despatched to The Post on Tuesday, and exhibits Lively and Baldoni slow-dancing as their characters in May 2023.
Baldoni’s legal counsel claimed the footage refutes Lively’s characterization of his conduct on the set of the film.
Blake Lively on the “It Ends With Us” premiere in London in Aug. 2024. AFP by way of Getty Images
In her sexual harassment lawsuit in opposition to Baldoni, Lively claimed that during the “slow dance scene,” Baldoni “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘it smells so good.’” In the uncooked footage, Lively may be heard joking that she’s “probably getting spray tan on” Baldoni, who laughs and replies, “It smells good.”
The video additionally references a charge Baldoni has leveled in opposition to Lively, particularly that she implied he ought to get cosmetic surgery on his nostril.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni filming “It Ends With Us.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Baldoni’s reps additionally shared a assertion included on a title card on the high of the footage, saying that “both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
A message from Justin Baldoni’s legal counsel.
Lively’s group slammed Baldoni’s video in a assertion to the Post and stated the footage is “damning” and “corroborates” her allegations of sexual harassment.
“Releasing this video to the media, rather than presenting it as evidence in court, is another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public,” Lively’s group stated. “It is also a continuation of their harassment and retaliatory campaign. While they are focused on misleading media narratives, we are focused on the legal process.”
Blake Lively on the “It Ends With Us” New York premiere. WireImage
The legal battle started in Dec. 2024 when Lively filed a criticism with the California Civil Rights Commission, during which she made claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear marketing campaign orchestrated by Baldoni. Her allegations had been additionally outlined in a New York Times article.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively on the set of “It Ends With Us” in Jan. 2024. Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com
In response, Baldoni sued the New York Times for $250 million, for libel and false gentle invasion of privateness over the article on Lively’s sexual harassment allegations. That similar day, Lively sued Baldoni for $250 million, alleging he triggered her to undergo “severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish” as well as to misplaced wages.
Baldoni, in return, filed a $400 million countersuit in opposition to Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni claimed that the couple “bulldozed” over him and took artistic control of the film.
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