Actor and director Justin Baldoni has released outtakes from a romantic scene in his film "It Ends With Us," aiming to refute co-star Blake Lively's allegations of sexual harassment. Lively contends that the footage of the pair engaging in a slow dance supports her claims.
The two stars, who portrayed a couple in the hit film released last year, are now entangled in a bitter legal dispute. Lively, 37, initiated the legal action against Baldoni, 40, in December, accusing him of inappropriate behavior and attempting to tarnish her reputation. In response, Baldoni countersued, alleging a dishonest effort to harm his character.
Lively's legal team cited specific actions in the released footage as evidence of Baldoni's misconduct, emphasizing the lack of coordination or consent for certain intimate gestures. They highlighted gestures like leaning in for kisses, caressing, and making unwelcome comments, insisting that they were not part of the script and lacked professionalism.
Baldoni's legal documents argued that the scene was approached with professionalism and contradicted Lively's claims of sexual harassment, presenting disagreements in their approaches to filming intimate scenes and character portrayal.
The released footage depicts the actors engaging in a slow dance scene in a bar, accompanied by recorded audio. The exchange shows moments of hesitation and discussion about the scene's romantic elements, interspersed with playful banter and disagreements on how to approach the scene.
In a series of takes, the actors are seen sharing light-hearted moments, discussing their characters' interactions, and engaging in physical contact as part of the scene. The outtakes capture their interactions during filming, highlighting their differing perspectives on portraying the characters' relationship.