Blake Lively claims to have been sexually harassed, and Justin Baldoni says he was body-shamed, cornered, and defamed.
A bombshell New York Times expose revealed an alleged, carefully orchestrated smear campaign against Lively. The revelations earned her widespread support, even from critics of her perceived “mean girl” persona over the years.
A shock twist in the ongoing drama involving Lively, 37 and Baldoni, 40, came in the sexual harassment allegations with behind-the-scenes footage that emerged from Baldoni, seemingly putting in question the claim of Lively.
BTS Footage Shows What Happened
The silent footage showcases a scene where Blake and Justin’s characters, Lily and Ryle, share an intimate moment. To build chemistry, both actors engaged in conversation, initially maintaining a professional dynamic. Lively spoke about her husband Ryan Reynolds, mentioning their constant chatter, while Baldoni talked about the silent connection he shares with his wife, Emily Baldoni. During this exchange, Lively used the term ‘sociopath’, which Baldoni later referenced in his legal filings.
The pivotal moment in Lively’s allegations concerns this very scene. According to her, Baldoni leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘it smells so good.’ Lively’s filing also claims that when she objected, Baldoni responded, “I’m not even attracted to you.”
However, the footage tells a different story. It shows Baldoni leaning in, in line with the scene’s requirements, as Lively quipped, “I’m probably getting spray tan on you.” Baldoni then laughed and said, “It smells good.”
Additionally, the clip highlights Lively suggesting Baldoni ‘do something about his nose,’ which viewers interpreted as casual body-shaming. Ironically, Lively has accused Baldoni of making disparaging remarks about her postpartum body.
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Lively’s Legal Counsel Responds
Blake Lively’s lawyers addressed the video footage, saying, “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present.”
With this almost 10-minute video coming out, many are re-questioning Lively’s version of events. Does this evidence flip the opinion towards Baldoni? The scandal remains to be debated by the public.