The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to escalate, with the release of unedited footage from their film "It Ends With Us" adding fuel to the fire. The footage, intended to refute Lively's sexual harassment claims against Baldoni, has instead become a point of contention, with both sides interpreting it as supporting their respective arguments.
Lively's initial complaint, filed in December, accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior during a slow dance scene, including unwanted touching and comments about her scent. Baldoni countered that his words were a playful response to Lively's mention of her spray tan, and the released footage purportedly shows this exchange.
However, Lively's legal team argues that the footage reinforces her claims, depicting Baldoni repeatedly initiating physical contact without her consent. They emphasize Lively's visible discomfort and attempts to redirect the scene towards dialogue. In contrast, Baldoni maintains that the interaction was within the context of the scene and demonstrates mutual respect and professionalism.
External perspectives on the footage vary. Intimacy coordinator Brenda King, while not involved in the film, analyzed the scene and noted Lively's apparent tension, suggesting a potential disconnect between the actors' approaches to intimacy. Film expert Scott Hamm Duenas acknowledged Lively's discomfort but questioned whether Baldoni's actions constituted harassment, highlighting the importance of clear communication on set.
Psychotherapist Robi Ludwig interpreted the interaction as a clash of acting styles rather than deliberate harassment, while clinical social worker Michelle English stressed the difficulty of assessing intent based solely on a short clip without further context. Adding another layer to the conflict, Baldoni has filed a separate lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, claiming Lively's refusal to work with the intimacy coordinator created an uncomfortable working environment.
As the legal proceedings continue, the conflicting interpretations of the unedited footage highlight the complexities of on-set interactions and the challenges of determining intent and defining harassment in the entertainment industry.
