A Hollywood intimacy coordinator has weighed in on the leaked behind-the-scenes footage from the film It Ends With Us, supporting Blake Lively’s claims that Justin Baldoni made her feel “uncomfortable” during filming.
In December 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, citing a particular slow-dance scene where she alleged that Baldoni behaved inappropriately.
Baldoni, however, responded to the allegations by releasing ten minutes of unedited footage, insisting that he had been acting professionally within the scope of the scene, with mutual respect.
Mia Schachter, an intimacy coordinator who was not involved with It Ends With Us, told The Hollywood Reporter that after reviewing the footage, she disagreed with Baldoni’s portrayal of the scene. According to Schachter, the director seemed to be introducing more intimacy into the scene than had been previously discussed.
She pointed out that Baldoni appeared to try to kiss Lively without prior consent, despite the scene’s script not mentioning any kissing. Schachter said Lively clearly seemed uncomfortable, as she repeatedly pulled away when Baldoni tried to kiss her, indicating that she didn’t want to engage in that level of intimacy.
The script for the scene flashed briefly in the footage, which described the moment as a slow dance in a bar with no mention of physical affection such as kissing.
Schachter emphasized that an intimacy coordinator is typically not required for a scene that does not involve any intimate contact.
However, she noted that had the scene been expected to involve more physical closeness, it would have been necessary to have prior discussions and clear agreements to ensure that everyone was comfortable with what was being portrayed on screen.
Schachter criticized Baldoni for not discussing the possibility of a kiss beforehand, pointing out that it was his responsibility to communicate his intentions to Lively.
She emphasized that actors need to discuss such actions before executing them in order to avoid catching anyone off guard. Schachter found it troubling that Baldoni went ahead with the kiss without first checking with Lively to see if she was comfortable with it, which she believed was a significant misstep in terms of both professionalism and respect.
The intimacy coordinator also highlighted the power imbalance on set, given that Baldoni was both the director and the male lead.
Schachter pointed out that while Lively is an accomplished actress and may not fear retaliation for speaking up, the dynamics on set can still make it challenging for her to assert herself in uncomfortable situations.
She noted that Lively might have felt the need to appease Baldoni and maintain a pleasant atmosphere during filming, even though she clearly did not want to engage in the unscripted kiss. Schachter suggested that Lively was likely trying to avoid conflict while keeping the peace on set, which made the situation all the more complex.
The slow-dance scene also included the actors talking out of character, adding further complexity to the situation. In Baldoni’s defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, he claimed that her decision to break character during the scene caused confusion, with Lively speaking as herself rather than as her character, Lily.
However, Lively alleged that Baldoni crossed boundaries by commenting on how good she smelled, which she found inappropriate.
Schachter acknowledged that while the small talk between the two actors was not inherently inappropriate, it contributed to the tension of the situation, especially given the growing discomfort on set.
Schachter concluded that although the conversation between the actors may have been awkward but not overtly inappropriate, it added to the series of events that led to Lively feeling increasingly uncomfortable.
She emphasized the importance of respecting boundaries and having clear communication on set to avoid any misunderstandings or violations of personal space.
The situation, according to Schachter, highlights the complexities of working in an environment where actors are expected to perform intimate scenes, and the importance of establishing trust and mutual respect.
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