Justin Baldoni vs. Blake Lively: Does a leaked video clear things up?

The legal dispute between Blake Lively (37) and Justin Baldoni (40) over his behavior on the set of “Only one more time” (original title “It Ends with Us”) continues to come to a head. On Tuesday (October 17th), Baldoni’s legal team leaked video footage of a controversial scene exclusively to selected media. The material, which lasts over ten minutes, is intended to prove that the actor and director behaved professionally and respectfully towards his colleague during breaks in filming. According to a statement from Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, to The Hollywood Reporter, the recordings “refute point by point” Lively’s account in her lawsuit from early October.

But Lively sees it completely differently. Also in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, her lawyers said that “every frame of the released footage” corroborates her client’s allegations. You can see how Baldoni repeatedly tried to kiss Lively, rub his face into her neck and tell her how good she smelled. All of this was improvised by Baldoni, without prior consultation or consent and without the presence of an intimacy coordinator.

To put it in perspective, Lively claimed in her lawsuit that Baldoni was out of character and made lewd comments in the dance scene in question, which was filmed silently. When she later complained about it, his response was: “I’m not even attracted to you.” However, according to Daily Mail, the leaked video does not show Lively objecting or Baldoni giving this response.

Lively’s lawyers criticized the release of the video as an “unethical attempt to manipulate the public” and see it as a continuation of a “campaign of harassment and retaliation.” The focus is on having Baldoni and his employees testify under oath in court rather than through “staged media actions.” Baldoni’s attorney, Freedman, denied the accusation, saying that Lively had tried to publicly destroy his client before her lawsuit. If he were to exercise his right to defend himself with facts and evidence, it would suddenly be morally reprehensible for Lively.

The US courts will probably have to decide who is right in the end. Lively is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and defamation of character. He has already filed a countersuit demanding $400 million in damages from Lively.