The scandalous legal battle between A-list actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over alleged sexual harassment has sent shockwaves through Hollywood. But leading intimacy coordinators say the sordid details emerging from both sides only prove the vital importance of their role in keeping performers safe during vulnerable scenes.
Lively filed a civil complaint against Baldoni, her co-star and director in the romantic drama It Ends With Us, shortly before Christmas. She accused him of inappropriate behavior during the filming of intimate scenes. Baldoni vehemently denies the allegations.
In a surprising move, Baldoni’s legal team released video footage of the actors performing three takes of a slow-dance scene in a bar – the very scene Lively claims demonstrates Baldoni’s misconduct. While his lawyers argue the clip exonerates him, Lively’s camp says it actually bolsters her case, showing her clear discomfort with Baldoni’s unscripted actions.
Intimacy Experts Weigh In
Renowned intimacy coordinators, the professionals who choreograph TV and film’s most delicate moments, are now speaking out. They say the “he said, she said” nature of the Lively-Baldoni dispute perfectly illustrates why their services should be non-negotiable on any set.
Dancing can absolutely be intimate, and having an intimacy coordinator on set should be a given. In the past, some people would go, ‘I do my own stunts. I don’t need a stunt coordinator’. Whereas today, if there’s a stunt or a fight, you have a stunt coordinator there to offer their skills. It should now be the same with intimacy coordinators.
– Ita O’Brien, pioneer of the intimacy coordinator role
Other experts who viewed the controversial footage say Lively appears to be trying to “appease” Baldoni and “keep a smile on her face” as he allegedly touches her in unplanned ways. They note the inherent power imbalance between a lead actress and her director.
- Arielle Zadok, intimacy coordinator for HBO’s Insecure, says it’s clear the actors were “negotiating the scene in real time” – something a professional coordinator would handle well in advance.
- Tommy Ross-Williams, chair of the Bectu trade union’s intimacy branch, notes “many important lines are blurred” when actors must advocate for their boundaries in the moment with a superior.
While careful not to pass judgment on a case still playing out, the experts agree: when there’s no intimacy coordinator involved, it’s far too easy for consent and safety to fall through the cracks, with damaging results for all.
A Rapidly Evolving Field
The role of the intimacy coordinator has skyrocketed to prominence in the #MeToo era. As the entertainment industry grapples with its long history of sexual misconduct, these specialists have emerged as essential safeguards.
Originally developed in the theatre world by trailblazers like Ita O’Brien, intimacy coordination has quickly become standard practice in high-budget TV and film productions. Hit shows like Normal People, Sex Education, Bridgerton, and I May Destroy You have been widely praised for their sensitive, consent-based approach to intimate content.
But Old Habits Die Hard
Despite this progress, the Lively-Baldoni case suggests that not every corner of the industry has fully embraced change. Especially on smaller-scale or independent productions, old-school attitudes about actors needing to be “accommodating” seem to persist.
Sources say Lively repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate protocols on the It Ends With Us set, but they went unheeded by Baldoni and studio higher-ups. With the young director determined to keep costs down and the cameras rolling, best practices fell by the wayside.
This was a low-budget passion project for Justin, and I think he felt pressure to cut corners. But some things can’t be compromised – and actor safety is one of them. When she speaks her truth, Blake is standing up for performers everywhere.
– unnamed source close to Lively
An Industry on Notice
As more and more upsetting accusations come to light, one thing is certain: the Lively-Baldoni battle has sounded an alarm throughout Hollywood. The critical role of intimacy coordinators in protecting the most vulnerable can no longer be ignored.
With major A-listers putting their careers on the line, the industry is officially on notice. Cutting corners on actor safety is simply no longer an option. For the sake of all performers, the intimacy coordinator is here to stay.
