Justin Baldoni's team uses 'Heated Rivalry' to seek dismissal of Blake Lively lawsuit

Justin Baldoni's attorney strongly mentioned "Heated Rivalry" in court, aiming to refute Blake Lively's allegations of sexual harassment against the actor.

Attorney Jonathan Bach referred to “Heated Rivalry” as he addressed Lively’s claim that Baldoni improperly touched her without consent during an improvised intimate scene for It Ends With Us, Variety reported.

Bach elicited laughs in the courtroom when he inquired, “Is the court familiar with the show ‘Heated Rivalry,'” as the outlet mentioned.

When Judge Lewis Liman expressed unfamiliarity, Bach elaborated that the queer hockey drama included explicit scenes and that the male actors — Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams — improvised.

Bach insisted that if male actors have the freedom to improvise intimate scenes, there shouldn’t be a gender-based discrimination issue.

 He also claimed any interactions between Baldoni and Lively were a natural extension of their characters' relationship and unrelated to her gender.

He further asserted that Lively joined “It Ends With Us” with the understanding that the project would include "intimate and sensual scenes," and her grievances were "minor issues" insufficient to be classified as sexual harassment.

One of Lively’s legal representatives, Esra Hudson, countered Bach's claims, stating that Lively experienced unwanted kissing, nuzzling, and touching — irrespective of the intimate scene expectations, as reported by Variety.

Liman also critiqued Bach's reasoning, emphasizing that the film’s adult themes didn’t grant Baldoni the freedom to touch Lively without her permission, to which Bach responded stating "context matters."

In her suit, Lively accused Baldoni of non-consensual touching during an improvised filming of a romantic scene.