Justin Baldoni's Wife Breaks Silence Amid Blake Lively Legal Drama
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on January 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM EST
Justin Baldoni's wife, Emily Baldoni, has publicly voiced her unwavering support for her husband as he faces legal allegations of sexual harassment from actress Blake Lively. The public display of affection and support comes amidst an ongoing legal battle that has drawn significant media attention.
Blake Lively filed a federal lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation after she raised concerns about his alleged behavior on the set of their film "It Ends With Us."
The movie, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, featured both Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively as stars, with Baldoni also serving as director.
Emily Baldoni Stands By Her Husband
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Taking to Instagram on Friday, Emily shared a heartfelt post celebrating Justin’s 41st birthday, which he had marked the day before.
The post featured a tender family photo of Emily and Justin kissing by the ocean, surrounded by their two children. In her caption, Emily wrote, “I’d choose you again and again,” calling Justin her “love, husband, and father.”
Despite the allegations, Emily’s Instagram post suggests that the controversy has not shaken the foundation of their marriage. Her message underscores her belief in Justin’s character, standing by him as the case continues to unfold.
Justin Baldoni Files $400 Million Lawsuit Against Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds Amid Escalating Legal Feud
The legal clash between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has intensified, with Baldoni filing a $400 million lawsuit on January 16 against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. The suit accuses the trio of defamation, extortion, and additional claims, following Lively’s initial sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni.
The escalating dispute began in December when Lively accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior during filming.
In her complaint, Lively claimed Baldoni engaged in harassment, including an incident during a "slow dance scene" where he allegedly “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear down her neck” while saying, “It smells so good.”
Baldoni’s legal team has fiercely contested the allegations, presenting behind-the-scenes footage from the film as part of his defense.
BTS Footage Of 'It Ends With Us' Scene Released
In the video, Lively can be heard joking, “I’m probably getting spray tan on you,” to which Baldoni laughs and responds, “It smells good.” His team asserts the footage undermines her claims and portrays the interaction as lighthearted rather than inappropriate.
Additionally, Baldoni’s countersuit against Lively accuses her of making disparaging remarks about his appearance, including suggesting he consider plastic surgery for his nose. More behind-the-scenes footage shows the actors joking about Baldoni’s nose, with Lively referencing plastic surgery in a seemingly playful manner.
Intimacy Coordinator Weighs In On Controversial 'It Ends With Us' Clip
Mia Schachter, a seasoned intimacy coordinator with credits on acclaimed projects like Apple TV+’s "Lessons in Chemistry," HBO’s "Insecure," and FX’s "American Crime Story," reviewed the footage and shared her expert perspective on the interactions and protocols depicted with The Hollywood Reporter.
Schachter noted that the video shows "that he is trying to kiss her, and they clearly haven’t discussed that ahead of time, and she keeps pulling away and clearly doesn’t want to do that." She emphasized that typically, if a scene involves characters kissing, an intimacy coordinator would have a prior discussion with the actors to address it.
The intimacy coordinator went on to elaborate on the power dynamic between the two actors, pointing out that even though she’s Blake Lively and has the ability to say no without fear of being fired, unlike others who might hesitate to speak up, Lively still has to maintain a working relationship with Baldoni, keep the peace, and play nice.
Justin Baldoni Sues The New York Times
The $400 million lawsuit is not Baldoni’s only legal move. On December 31, he filed a separate lawsuit against The New York Times for libel and invasion of privacy, alleging the publication engaged in a biased smear campaign against him following its coverage of Lively’s accusations.
As part of his legal strategy, Baldoni’s team has announced plans to launch a website dedicated to debunking Lively’s allegations. The site will reportedly include additional footage from the "It Ends With Us" set, which Baldoni’s attorneys claim will provide further evidence to disprove Lively’s accusations.
The high-stakes legal battle shows no signs of slowing down, with both parties standing firm in their respective positions. As the lawsuits unfold, the case continues to generate widespread public attention, with fans and industry insiders closely watching the fallout from the allegations and countersuits.