Justin Baldoni speaks out as Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims are dismissed
Topics: Blake Lively, Celebrity, US News, Justin Baldoni
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Topics: Blake Lively, Celebrity, US News, Justin Baldoni
After a judge dealt Blake Lively a considerable setback in her sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, the actor has spoken out.
The pair, who starred as co-leads in the romantic-drama It Ends With Us in 2024, attended a hearing in New York City on Thursday (2 April).
The trial took place over a year after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set. She also claimed he orchestrated a smear campaign after she spoke out over alleged mistreatment.
More specifically, she accused the actor of kissing her during a scene that didn't call for any physical action, and of entering her trailer while she was breastfeeding her child.
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Unfortunately for Lively, however, the 38-year-old heard this week that Judge Lewis Liman dismissed her sexual harassment claims.
The judge also dismissed her allegation of being fat-shamed by 42-year-old Baldoni.
Ten of the actress's 13 claims were dismissed this week. Liman agreed, however, to proceedings continuing for Lively's claims of retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation and breach of contract.
One of Lively's claims was a breach of the Actor Loanout Agreement, which prohibited sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us.
The trouble is, Lively never signed it, since she and the production team could not agree on the terms.
Therefore, Judge Liman said it was not 'a validly formed and binding contract', and threw out Lively's breach of contract claim
One of Lively's claims is that she allegedly found out Baldoni had asked her personal trainer if they knew what Lively would weigh during filming.
He is also alleged to have introduced her to a specialist in probiotics, who specialised in weight loss.
Lively claimed this created a hostile work environment based on sex, and undue pressure was applied on her - particularly as she had just given birth to her and Ryan Reynolds' fourth child, Olin.
But Judge Limas said: "The physical appearance of the protagonists was part of the product that the producers were intending to offer the audience."
"Lively herself recognized that achieving a 'certain aesthetic' was 'part of the job that we both excitedly signed up for.'"
He concluded: "Baldoni’s actions - even if they could be viewed as gently pushing Lively to lose weight, which is not necessarily supported by the evidence - could not fairly be described as discrimination 'because of' Lively’s gender."
Judge Liman also commented on a much-discussed improvised slow-dancing scene. Baldoni released footage of he and Lively filming the scene, and both parties have insisted it proves their own points.
Lively's team said it showed Baldoni 'attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing her forehead and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling how good she smells and talking with her out of character', all without her asking her first.
Baldoni's team claimed it shows both actors behaving with 'mutual respect and professionalism'.
Judge Liman said: "It would be difficult to view Baldoni’s conduct as reflecting hostility or bias based on gender. He was acting in the scene.
"Assuming he was improvising, the conduct was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters during a slow dancing scene."
Shortly after the judge announced his decision, Baldoni's lawyers released a statement on his behalf.
"We're very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel," Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach shared.
"These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided."
The duo added that Lively's lawsuit is now 'significantly narrowed', claiming: "We look forward to presenting our defence to the remaining claims in court."
Shapiro and Bach's response to the victory came just hours after mother-of-four Lively's team spoke out.
"This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively's reputation because she stood up for safety on the set, and that is the case that is going to trial," one of her solicitors, Sigrid McCawley, said.
"For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they've targeted.
"She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight."
Lively's statement added: "Sexual harassment isn't going forward, not because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee."
The trial will continue on 18 May.