An expert in the field of intimacy coordination has shared their insights on the legal scuffle involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni after viewing a leaked scene from the movie It Ends with Us.
Blake Lively, who starred alongside Justin Baldoni in the film, is currently involved in a legal confrontation with him.
In December, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and participating in a ‘smear campaign’ against her, filing a legal complaint to that effect.
Baldoni has rejected these allegations and has countered with his own legal action against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Recently, Baldoni’s team released a video of a scene featuring Lively and Baldoni slow dancing, which is at the center of Lively’s allegations of misconduct.
The released footage purports to show all the takes from that particular scene.
Lively claims that Baldoni ‘leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear down her neck while saying, “It smells so good”,’ alleging that he inappropriately ‘caressed her with his mouth in a manner unrelated to their roles’.
Mia Schachter, an intimacy coordinator, offered her professional assessment of the video to the Hollywood Reporter.
She observed: “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.”
Schachter also commented on Lively’s demeanor, stating: “Even though she’s Blake Lively and can say no and isn’t going to be fired for speaking her mind the way that somebody else might fear, she still has to keep working with him and keep the peace and play nice.
“I can just see her trying to stay lighthearted and in good spirits about it and not upset him or anybody, and not waste anybody’s time. But of course, she is trapped between a rock and a hard place. I can see her appeasing him and trying to keep a smile on her face.”
Schachter expressed surprise that Baldoni’s team released the video, suggesting it doesn’t clear his name as they might have intended.
She noted that the video indicates a lack of prior discussion about the kiss, adding: “For an actor, if they know the plan ahead of time and they’re not caught off guard, they’re often open to trying things.
“The problem here was that none of this was planned or discussed.”
Baldoni has firmly denied the accusations made by Lively.