A 27-minute proposal video created by Justin Baldoni for his now-wife, Emily Baldoni, has resurfaced online amidst a lawsuit filed by his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The video, originally posted in 2012 by Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios, has drawn fresh scrutiny as fans react to the ongoing controversy surrounding the actor and director.
A Grand Proposal
In the elaborate video, Baldoni begins by recreating key moments from his and Emily’s first date at Blu Jam Cafe, a restaurant he rented out for the occasion. The video opens with Baldoni pretending to be late for their date, followed by a series of playful and theatrical scenes. These include a mock radio show, a lip-sync performance of NSYNC’s “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You,” Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You,” and ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” as well as a flash mob dance at a mall set to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.”
The proposal video concludes with a heartfelt in-person moment at the restaurant. Baldoni addresses Emily directly, saying, “You’re the woman that has changed my life. I’ve never been happier, never been sadder. I’ve never been more angry, and life has never been more beautiful.” He then shared a tribute to Emily’s late father, including a video of him visiting her father’s grave to ask for her hand in marriage.
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While the proposal video once garnered admiration for its creativity, it has now sparked criticism in the wake of Lively’s legal claims. On social media, many users questioned Baldoni’s motivations. “Feeling vindicated because I have ALWAYS thought Justin Baldoni was sketchy ever since he released that one-hour long dance mob cringe fest proposal video,” one user commented on X (formerly Twitter).
On TikTok, a user analyzed the video, stating, “You can tell everything about a man by the way he proposes. If your boyfriend makes you watch a 30-minute video of himself, as a proposal to you, you need to run, girl.”
Lively’s Allegations
The resurfacing of the proposal comes amid Lively’s lawsuit, which accuses Baldoni of inappropriate behavior on the set of It Ends With Us and orchestrating a smear campaign after she raised concerns. In her legal filing, Lively cited incidents including Baldoni allegedly showing inappropriate videos, making personal comments, and discussing sensitive topics with cast members.
The lawsuit also claims that Baldoni retaliated against Lively’s requests for workplace protections by hiring a crisis PR firm to damage her reputation. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has denied the claims, calling them “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious.”
Fallout and Support for Lively
Following the lawsuit, Baldoni was dropped by his management agency, WME, and has faced significant backlash from fans and industry professionals. Meanwhile, Lively has received support from her colleagues, including her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn. In a joint statement, they said, “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.”
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The lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to Baldoni’s career and personal life, with the allegations continuing to unfold and intensify public and industry scrutiny.
Source: Independent