Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have filed a surprising legal request following the release of a controversial video by Justin Baldoni’s attorney, which depicted the pair on the Ends With Us set.
The video, exclusively published by Newsafro.com, includes all three takes of a dance scene between Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 40, appearing to suggest that the two maintained cordial relations prior to Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment against the actor.
In response, Lively contested the video’s release, asserting that it substantiates her claim of discomfort during the scene.
Lively and Reynolds, 49, have formally requested a judge to impose a gag order on Justin Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, alleging that the team has disseminated false statements regarding the case.
In a letter submitted to the court on Tuesday, the couple sought the issuance of a protective order to prevent attorneys from engaging in what they describe as “improper conduct.” They cited an alleged “harassing and retaliatory media campaign” directed against them, according to TMZ.
Lively and Reynolds further allege that Freedman is in violation of court rules prohibiting attorneys from making public statements irrelevant to the case that could potentially prejudice the jury.
The couple’s filing specifically references the release of unedited footage.
Sources close to Baldoni, as reported by Newsafro.com, argue that imposing a gag order would be “grossly unfair,” particularly after Baldoni was allegedly defamed in a New York Times article that, according to them, resulted in the loss of three jobs and financial damages amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“All Justin wants to do is release videos and text messages to disprove the allegations,” the sources claim. “It is unbelievable that Blake Lively would initiate a campaign to discredit Justin and then immediately demand a gag order to prevent him from defending himself.”
This development follows Lively’s public statement regarding the unedited footage.
“Justin Baldoni and his attorney may believe this latest tactic will preemptively counter the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is incriminating,” Lively’s legal team stated in a comment shared with Newsafro.com.
Her legal representatives assert that the footage depicts Baldoni “repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, commenting on how good she smells, and engaging with her outside the boundaries of his character.”#newsafro_
