Blake Lively is thrilled Justin Baldoni decided to release unedited footage from “It Ends With Us” because she says it just proves her point… that she was visibly uncomfortable with Baldoni's advances during the scene.
Blake's legal team tells TMZ, “Justin Baldoni and his attorney may be hoping this latest stunt will forestall the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning. Every frame of the released footage confirms to the letter what Ms. Lively describes in paragraph 48 of her complaint.”
Courtesy of Bryan Freedman
They continue: “The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth on her neck, running his thumb over her lip, caressing her, and you say how good.” She smells and it’s out of character to talk to her.
While it may seem like they're just actors acting out a scene meant to show them falling in love… Blake's team points out that none of the intimacy was discussed or choreographed. As they put it: “Every moment of it was improvised by Mr. Baldoni, without prior discussion or consent and without the presence of an intimacy coordinator. In addition to being Ms. Lively's co-star, Mr. Baldoni was the director, the head of the studio and Ms. Lively's boss.
According to her lawyers, Blake leaning away from Justin in the scene wasn't an act. They say: “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking the characters to just talk. Any woman who has been touched inappropriately in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively's discomfort. She will recognize her careless attempts to distract.” The unwanted toucher should not have to take defensive measures to prevent her employer from being touched without their consent.
As we reported, Justin's team released nearly ten minutes of raw footage, but believed it proved he did NOT sexually harass Blake during the scene.
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This latest development in the high-profile legal war follows Blake Lively's legal team's response last Thursday to Justin Baldoni's lawsuit with a scathing statement: “It's a tale as old as time: A woman speaks to concrete.” Evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the attempts of the perpetrator to turn the victim.
Lively's team says Justin and his production company are pulling out all the stops to “overwhelm the public's ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against allegations of sexual harassment.”
Taylor Swift notably appeared in Justin's lawsuit – where he added text that he said shows Blake Lively comparing herself to Daenerys Targaryen, a main character in “Game of Thrones” and TS and her husband Ryan Reynolds are their “dragons”.
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He's suing Lively, Reynolds and Blake's publicist, Leslie Sloane for defamation, civil extortion, interference with contractual relationships and a number of other allegations – and is seeking damages of no less than $400 million.
On the other hand… Blake accused Baldoni of showing her nude photos and videos of women, discussing an alleged “pornography addiction,” discussing his sexual conquests and commenting on her weight. After filing her first complaint, she submitted sued Baldoni for mental anguish and emotional distress.
Blake's lawyers tell us: “Releasing this video to the media instead of presenting it as evidence in court is another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public. It is also a continuation of their campaign of harassment and retaliation. While they are focused.” When it comes to misleading media narratives, we focus on the legal process. We continue our efforts to bring Mr. Baldoni and his associates to justice, under oath and not through trumped-up media stunts.”