An intimacy expert unpacks the controversy over Justin Baldoni's 'perfume' comments

A recently uploaded unedited clip from the set of “It's With Us” is going viral for offering audio and context that seem to contradict each other. Blake LivelySexual harassment allegations against co-star and director Justin Baldoni.

The footage sheds new light on a heated legal battle filled with claims and counterclaims, including Blake Lively's allegation that Justin Baldoni acted inappropriately during the filming of a romantic dance scene.

Baldoni, who is alive in his civil rights complaint, allegedly whispers, “It smells so good,” during the lip-to-neck scripted dance scene. She stated that no one heard the remark because the microphones were turned off for the silent scene.

Baldoni replies, “It smells good,” which makes both actors laugh. Life explains that the scent comes from her body makeup, keeping a playful tone to their interaction.

The comment has been the focus of attention among fans sharing the clip, but Mia Schachter, an intimacy coordinator who has worked on Apple TV+'s “Chemistry Class,” HBO's “Insecure” and FX's “American Crime Story,” told “, told” American Crime story,” told by “American Crime Story,” told by “HBO.” The Hollywood Reporter People should look at the bigger picture.

“As far as the smell comment goes, to me it's less about that particular comment and whether that was the straw that broke the camel's back kind of situation,” she said. “It's like she has a running list of times when she was uncomfortable and pushed, and that things that weren't right happened. That line to me is something you might even notice if you're comfortable and safe. “

Schachter acknowledged how difficult it was, “because obviously you have to say that there's a point in the character.”

“To say it's out of character is wrong or inappropriate,” she added. “But when there's discomfort and assembly line crossings, I can see it becoming another thing that wasn't a line.”

Discussing Daily mailCaptioning the video “Who's lying?”, Shaher admits that she doesn't think any of them are lying.

“I think they're both speaking from experience,” she said ThrAppuse “They really disagree about things like professionalism, etiquette, what's appropriate, what's not, what it means to be an actor. There are still actors who are still like, 'It should all be organic.' ” And “Oh, I'm sorry I pushed you.”

“Most, if not all, proximity coordinators and stunt coordinators would say, 'You just don't do that.' You don't kiss someone if you haven't talked about it ahead of time. ” In Hollywood, in the not-too-recent past, it was not out of the ordinary,” added Shaher. “That's not to say it was OK, but we were operating with a different set of standards.”

At the end of the day, Schachter believes Baldoni should have stepped up and made sure Livley was comfortable shooting the scenes.

“In a scene like that without an intimacy coordinator, I think it was his responsibility to ask Blake, 'Hey, what do you think about kissing in this scene?' ” If that's what he wanted to see. That's what he wanted to shoot, but he didn't do it to me.

“Justin Baldoni and his attorney can hope this latest stunt gets ahead of the damning evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,” Lively's attorneys said. TMZAppuse “Every frame of released footage corroborates the letters Ms. Lively described in paragraph 48 of her complaint.”

The statement detailed the behavior in the video, saying it shows Baldoni “repeatedly leaning toward Ms. Lively, trying to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing her face and mouth against her neck, lip-to-lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her, how good she smells, and talking to her out of character. “

As the legal battle unfolds, the video raises important questions about how the dynamics on set are interpreted, and the challenges of distinguishing between scripted actions and potential wrongdoing. For now, both sides are sticking to their narratives, leaving it to the court of public opinion to weigh the evidence.