Justin Baldoni’s camp is claiming a double standard after Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds requested a gag order for his lawyer, Bryan Freedman.
Sources close to the “It Ends With Us” director believe it is “grossly unfair” that the couple has asked a judge to prohibit the attorney from talking to the media after Lively’s sexual harassment claims were initially published by the New York Times.
Insiders close to the “Jane the Virgin” alum argue that the pair’s motion is “unbelievable” since Freedman has merely been defending his client from Lively’s alleged “takedown campaign.”
Reps for Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, were not immediately available for comment.
The couple is seeking a protective order that would prohibit Freedman from releasing discovery materials regarding the case to the press.
A letter sent to Judge Lewis J. Liman on Tuesday claimed that Freedman’s comments could “taint the jury pool” should Lively’s sexual harassment case make it to court.
“As Ms. Lively’s counsel have attempted, repeatedly, to caution Mr. Freedman, federal litigation must be conducted in court and according to the relevant rules of professional conduct,” the letter states, per several outlets.
Lively and Reynolds’ counsel claim that Freedman “has given television interviews, appeared on podcasts, issued inflammatory written statements, and leaked information (including, remarkably, documents as banal as document preservation demands to third parties) to the Hollywood press and tabloid media” virtually “every day” since the “Gossip Girl” alum filed her complaint against Baldoni on Dec. 20.
The letter also alleges that Freedman’s statements have been “deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility, [and] reputation’ of numerous relevant parties.”
The request came after Baldoni, 40, released raw footage from “It Ends With Us” in an effort to refute Lively’s sexual harassment claims against him, which he has denied.
The actor-director’s legal team has also teased plans to launch a website with “more information” meant to disprove Lively’s allegations.
In the unedited video made public this week, Lively and Baldoni are seen filming the slow-dance scene referenced in the actress’ lawsuit.
While Baldoni’s side claimed the 10 minutes of raw footage “refutes Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior” — her team insisted that it was “damning evidence,” which “corroborates” her allegations of sexual harassment.
“The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in 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, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character,” Lively’s attorneys said in a statement to Page Six.
“Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.”
“Releasing this video to the media, rather than presenting it as evidence in court, is another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public,” they continued.
Her team added, “We are continuing our efforts to require Mr. Baldoni and his associates to answer in court, under oath, rather than through manufactured media stunts.”
In response, Freedman told Page Six in a statement, “Prior to filing her lawsuit in court, Ms. Lively went to The New York Times in an effort to publicly destroy Justin Baldoni. When Mr. Baldoni exercises his right to publicly defend himself by putting forth actual facts and evidence, for Ms. Lively and team this instantly becomes morally and ethically wrong.
“Ms. Lively wants very different standards to apply to her but fortunately, truth and authenticity apply to everyone and can never be wrong. Looking at the video and the evidence to come, I can understand why Ms. Lively would now, not want this to play out in public.”
