Blake Lively’s legal team demanded a gag order be placed on Justin Baldoni’s attorney as the “It Ends With Us” co-star’s legal battle continues to heat up.
Lively’s team blasted Bryan Freedman for making multiple statements to the media that could ultimately taint the jury pool if the actress’ sexual harassment complaints against Baldoni reached the courtroom.
“Given that Ms. Lively’s counsel has repeatedly attempted to warn Mr. Freedman, federal lawsuits must be pursued in court and under the relevant rules of professional conduct,” said the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital. “His conduct threatens and will materially harm both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility (and) reputation’ of numerous relevant parties.”
The letter, filed on Jan. 21, included examples of Freedman’s previous statements and included the release of unedited footage from “It Ends With Us.” Both Lively and Baldoni claim the footage supports each of their claims.
Blake Lively’s legal team has sent a cease and desist letter to Justin Baldoni’s attorney as they seek a gag order from the judge. (Jose Perez/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 gave him three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars has cost. All Baldoni wants to do, the source says, “is release videos and text messages to prove the allegations are false.”
The source adds that it’s “incredible” that Lively would launch a takedown campaign against Baldoni and then immediately turn around and say she wants a gag order so the actor can’t defend himself.
“(Justin Baldoni’s attorney’s) conduct threatens and will materially harm both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining ‘character, credibility (and) reputation’ from numerous relevant parties.”
Blake Lively’s legal team claims that Justin Baldoni’s attorney’s conduct “threatens and will harm both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool.” (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
After submitting his $400 million lawsuit To Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni’s video — shared by his attorney and obtained by Fox News Digital — reportedly addresses the actress’ claims of a slow-dance scene.
Lively alleged that Baldoni “leaned in and slowly dragged 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 News digital. “When Ms. Lively later objected to this behavior, Mr. Baldoni responded, ‘I’m not even attracted to you.'”
WATCH: JUSTIN BALDONI DELIVERS UNEDITED ‘IT ENDS WITH US’ FOOTAGE WITH BLAKE LIVELY
However, Baldoni persisted the comment was made in reference to Lively’s own admission about her spray tan. Throughout the video, nearly 10 minutes of raw footage, Baldoni directs the scene as Lively engages him in conversation, as she states it is “more romantic” than just staring at each other. As Baldoni snuggled into Lively’s neck, the actor jokingly asked, “Am I getting a beard with you today?” She laughed and said, “I’ll probably get a spray tan from you.”
Baldoni then said, “It smells nice,” to which Lively replied, “Well, it’s not. It’s my body makeup.”
The videos “captured on May 23, 2023 clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior,” according to a statement at the beginning of the clip. “The scene in question is designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to each other. Both actors clearly conduct themselves well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism. These are all three shots of the sequence.”
A source close to Baldoni says it’s “incredible” that Lively would wage a takedown campaign against the actor and then immediately turn around and say she wants a gag order so he can’t defend himself. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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Lively’s legal team claimed the unedited video is “damning evidence” and “corroborates” her allegations of sexual harassment.
“Justin Baldoni and his attorney may hope this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning. Every frame of the released footage confirms, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her complaint,” Lively’s legal team said in a statement 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, running his thumb over her lip, caressing her and telling her how good she smells. and talk to her without character.”
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 prior discussion or 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 who from Mrs. Lively.
They added: “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking the characters to just talk. Any woman who has been touched inappropriately in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. They will recognize her attempts to recognize frivolousness to try to ward off unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have sued each other in federal court. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
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Vivid, detailed allegations 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 Civil Rights Department and later in federal court.
Some of the issues reportedly raised during an “all-hands” meeting before filming began included no longer showing Lively nude videos or images of women, no more mention of Baldoni’s previous “pornography addiction” , no more discussing personal experiences with sex, no more descriptions of their own genitals, no more adding sex scenes outside of what was in the original script, no more discussions about Lively’s weight or dead 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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