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Blake Lively’s legal team demanded that a gag order be implemented against Justin Baldoni’s attorney as the “It Ends With Us” co-star’s legal battle continues to heat up.
Lively’s team criticized Bryan Freedman for making multiple statements to the media that could ultimately taint the jury if the actress’ sexual harassment claims against Baldoni reach court.
“As Ms. Lively’s attorneys have repeatedly attempted to advise Mr. Freedman, federal litigation must be conducted in court and in accordance with the relevant rules of professional conduct,” said the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital. “His conduct threatens to materially harm both the Lively case and the Wayfarer case by tainting the jury, because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility (and) reputation’ of numerous relevant parties.”
The letter, filed on Jan. 21, featured examples of Freedman’s previous statements and included the release of unedited footage from “It Ends With Us.” Both Lively and Baldoni have stated that the images support each of their respective claims.
Blake Lively’s legal team sent a cease and desist to Justin Baldoni’s attorney as they request a gag order from the judge. (José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Sources close to Baldoni believe it is grossly unfair to impose a gag order after the “Jane the Virgin” star was allegedly defamed by the New York Times in an article they say has cost her three jobs and hundreds of millions. of dollars. All Baldoni wants to do, the source said, “is post videos and text messages to prove the allegations are false.”
The source adds that it’s “unbelievable” that Lively went on a takedown campaign against Baldoni and then immediately turned around and said she wants a gag order so the actor can’t defend himself.
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“(Justin Baldoni’s attorney’s) conduct threatens to materially harm both the Lively case and the Wayfarer case by tainting the jury, because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility (and) reputation’ of numerous parties.” relevant.”
Blake Lively’s legal team claims that Justin Baldoni’s attorney’s “conduct threatens and will materially prejudice both the Lively case and the Wayfarer case by tainting the jury.” (José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
After submitting your Demand for 400 million dollars against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni’s video, shared by her lawyer and obtained by Fox News Digital, supposedly addresses the actress’ claims about a slow dancing scene.
Lively claimed that Baldoni “leaned forward and slowly trailed his lips from her ear to her neck while saying, ‘it smells so good,'” while filming a slow dance montage scene, according to her Dec. 20 sexual harassment filing. obtained by Fox. Digital news. “When Ms. Lively later objected to this behavior, Mr. Baldoni’s response was, ‘I’m not even attracted to you.'”
WATCH: JUSTIN BALDONI RELEASES UNRELEASED IMAGES OF ‘END WITH US’ WITH BLAKE LIVELY
However, Baldoni insisted The comment was made in regards to Lively’s own admission about her spray tan. Throughout the video, nearly 10 minutes of raw footage, Baldoni directs the scene while Lively strikes up a conversation with him because she claims it’s “more romantic” than just staring at each other. As Baldoni snuggled into Lively’s neck, the actor jokingly asked, “Am I going to grow a beard for you today?” She laughed and said, “I’m probably spray tanning you.”
Baldoni then said, “It smells good,” to which Lively responded, “Well, it’s not that. It’s my body makeup.”
The videos “captured on May 23, 2023 clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of her behavior,” a statement shared at the beginning of the clip read. “The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to each other. Both actors clearly behave well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism. These are the three filmed takes of the sequence.”
A source close to Baldoni says it’s “unbelievable” that Lively launched a takedown campaign against the actor and then immediately turned around and said she wants a gag order so he can’t defend himself. (José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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Lively’s legal team claimed the raw video is “damning evidence” and “corroborates” her sexual harassment allegations.
“Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt preempts the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning. Every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in paragraph 48 of her complaint,” Lively’s legal team said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, smacking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking to she out of place.”
Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of “It Ends With Us.” (Getty Images)
“Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni without discussion or prior consent, and without an intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but also the director, the head of the studio and Ms. Lively’s representative boss.”
They added: “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning in and repeatedly asking the characters to simply talk. Any woman who has been touched inappropriately in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. They will recognize her attempts at levity. to try to divert attention from unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by her employer without her consent.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are suing each other in federal court. (José Pérez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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Animated and detailed accusations of sexual harassmentretaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and more made by Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint filed first with the California Department of Civil Rights and then in federal court.
Some of the issues supposedly addressed at an “all-hands” meeting before filming began included no longer showing nude videos or images of women to Lively, no longer mentioning Baldoni’s previous “pornography addiction,” no more discussions about personal experiences with sex, no more descriptions of her own genitals, no more adding sex scenes outside of what was in the original script, no more discussions about Lively’s weight or her deceased father, and more.
Blake Lively poses on the red carpet for the London premiere of “It Ends With Us.” (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
However, Baldoni insisted that Lively “falsely” accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following the fallout from the film’s press tour after she took control of the film.
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