Justin Baldoni, the actor and director of the film “It Ends With Us,” shared in an interview with a television host his experiences from the film’s premiere.
He said that he and his family were sent to the basement during the event following direct instructions from Blake.
This is another story in the ongoing legal dispute between the two, concerning allegations of sexual harassment and hostile working conditions during production.
Baldoni, who played one of the lead roles, described the evening as a moment that could have been one of the most beautiful in his career.
“I was in a place that could have been one of the most beautiful nights of my professional life, and suddenly I found myself in the basement with all my friends and family for over an hour, because I could not be present,” Baldoni said in an audio statement broadcast on the show.
He added that Blake requested he stay away from her and the other actors, which created an awkward situation.
Despite the embarrassment, Baldoni did not view the situation negatively.
“We started laughing at the absurdity of the situation,” he said, adding that his friends and family did not let the circumstances bring down their spirits.
“I was in the basement with the people I love most, and we had fun and laughed, because none of this really matters.”
Baldoni emphasized his true love for cinema and art.
“We are not here to be stars on the red carpet, we are here because we are artists,” he said.
“Our goal is to create works that reach people’s souls and can shock and move them.”
During the same interview, Baldoni’s lawyer responded to Blake’s allegations of sexual harassment. The lawyer claimed that if she had truly experienced what she described, she would not have returned to work on the film, especially after discussing the matter beforehand.
“If she really felt that way, she would not have returned to work,” he said.
The lawyer also rejected claims regarding pornographic content, saying that what she saw was a home birth video, not something that falls under pornography.
Additionally, he stated that Blake acted in an intimidating manner in the industry, using others to convey threats and pressure to achieve what she wanted.
“She used other people to pass on threats and stir the way to get what she wanted,” he noted.
In response, Blake’s legal team issued their own statement, condemning Baldoni’s remarks as “further attacks” against their client.
They reaffirmed their support of her claims, saying they are based on “absolute facts.”
Her legal team emphasized the use of tactics like victim blaming, and confirmed that sexual harassment and retaliatory responses are illegal in any industry.
Blake’s lawsuit also claims that the media storm resulting from the story negatively affected her business, particularly her hair care and beverage brands. “
Sales of the ‘Blake Brown’ brand have dropped by 78 percent since the social media campaign began,” the lawsuit noted.