Justin Baldoni Claims Unedited ‘Break Up With Us’ Footage Rebuts Blake Lively’s Sexual Assault Accusations
Justin Baldoni’s team has released unedited footage of Blake Lively’s “Break Up With Us” in which they claim to deny sexual harassment allegations.
After applying a $400 million lawsuit The video, shared by Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman and obtained by Fox News Digital, addresses Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ claims against Lively, allegedly over the actress’ slow dance scene.
Lively alleged that Baldoni “leaned forward and slowly moved his lips down her ear and down her neck and said, “it smells so good,”” Lively claimed, according to a sexual assault lawsuit obtained by Fox on Dec. 20. Digital News. When Ms. Lively later objected to the behavior, Mr. Baldoni’s response was: “I’m not even attracted to you.”
However, Baldoni insisted the comment was made in reference to Lively’s own admission of her spray tan.
JUSTIN BALDONI, BLAKE LIVELY, Ryan Reynolds sued for $400 million.
Justin Baldoni released unedited footage from the set of It Ends With Us. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
WATCH: Justin Baldoni Releases Unedited ‘BREAK WITH US’ Footage Featuring BLAKE LIVELY
Throughout the video, which is about 10 minutes of raw footage, Baldoni commands the stage and Lively chats with him because she says it’s “more romantic” than just looking at each other.
As Baldoni snuggled into Lively’s neck, the actor jokingly asked, “Shave you today?” She laughed and said, “I guess I’ll give you a spray tan.”
Baldoni then said, “It smells good,” to which Lively replied, “Well, it’s not. It’s my body makeup.”
“The following videos, recorded on May 23, 2023, clearly disprove the characterization of Ms. Lively’s behavior,” reads the statement shared at the beginning of the video. “The scene in question was designed to show that the two characters love each other and long to be close to each other. Both actors behave well within the framework of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
“All three of these are shots taken in sequence.”
A representative for Lively did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively were spotted on the set of It Ends with Us on January 12, 2024. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
“The scene in question was designed to show that the two characters love each other and long to be close to each other. Both actors behave well within the framework of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
Allegations of sexual harassment in vivid detailThe complaint filed by Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath, first with the California Department of Civil Rights and then in federal court, alleges retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and more.
Some of the issues allegedly discussed in a “comprehensive” meeting before filming began included no longer showing Lively nude videos or images of women, no mention of Baldoni’s previous “pornography addiction,” no more discussions about personal experiences with sex, no more no genitalia, no added sex scenes beyond what was in the original script, no further discussion of Lively’s weight or her late father, and more.
However, following the events surrounding the film’s press tour after taking control of the film, Baldoni insisted that Lively had “falsely” accused him in order to restore her reputation.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively filmed Break Up With Us in 2023 and 2024. (Getty Images)
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Blake Lively has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Baldoni’s legal team He claimed that Lively had no evidence of a deliberate smear campaign and was instead trying to restore her reputation by accusing the actor and others of sexual harassment.
The lawsuit states that Lively “couldn’t for one moment tolerate her public image and then accept that it was entirely her creation.” “He needed a scapegoat. Rather than admitting and taking responsibility for his own misfortunes, he maliciously and unforgivably chose to publicly blame the Plaintiffs.”
“When he couldn’t get Reynolds and Baldoni and Wayfarer to read a statement he and his reps had prepared, and get them to ‘take responsibility’ for defending Lively’s actions, he lay in wait for months, falsely claiming to publicly attack Baldoni. He sexually assaulted her.”
Justin Baldoni for civil extortion, defamation, etc. has sued Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds over the allegations. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
In a statement, Lively’s team condemned Baldoni’s claim.
“This latest lawsuit by Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its employees is another chapter in the abuser’s playbook,” Lively’s legal team said in a statement. “It’s an old story: A woman comes forward with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and tries to turn the tables on the victim abuser. Experts call it DARVO. Deny. Assault. Turn the victim on the perpetrator.”
The statement continued in part: “Their response to allegations of sexual harassment: she wanted it, it’s her fault. Their justification for why it happened to her: look at what she was wearing. In short, the abuser focuses on the victim while the victim focuses on the abuse, “The strategy to attack the woman is desperate, does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and will fail.”
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