Even Blake Lively‘s trainer couldn’t believe Justin Baldoni would ask about her weight!
As we previously reported, the 38-year-old actress accused Justin Baldoni of fat- shaming her while working on It Ends With Us. Blake claimed the director asked her personal trainer how much she weighed before they filmed a scene in which he had to lift her. However, Justin argued that he only brought it up because he didn’t want to worsen a back injury during filming — and “did so discreetly, outside the workplace and outside Lively’s hearing.” Hmm.
Related: Johnny Depp Gets Dragged Into Blake & Justin’s Legal Drama In Newly Unsealed Texts!
We got Justin and Blake’s side of the story, but it is now time for the trainer’s POV! What does he have to say about all of this? He apparently felt SO “uncomfortable” by the conversation with the filmmaker!
According to a court declaration obtained by Us Weekly on Wednesday, Don Saladino (pictured above) shared that he was in communication with Justin only “a handful of times” in February 2023. The fitness instructor said he gave some workout tips, nutrition information, and a recommendation for a trainer near the Jane The Virgin alum:
“He provided information on his nutrition and workout regimen. His existing workout program included regular back extensions. I recommended Mr. Baldoni a workout program and provided information to him about my standard nutrition plan. I also recommended a specific individual who lived near Mr. Baldoni at the time and who could act as his trainer.”
Don noted he never met Justin in person and didn’t consider him a client. Instead, he only agreed to train Blake for her role in the movie — which is why what the 41-year-old actor did next made him uneasy. Don claimed Justin called him on the phone at one point during his training to ask him a question about the Simple Favor star’s weight:
“I recall that Mr. Baldoni asked me how much Ms. Lively would weigh by the start of filming. He said that he was asking about her weight in connection with a scripted lift scene, suggesting that he needed to know Ms. Lively’s weight to determine whether he could perform the lift.”
The question, Don shared, made him “very uncomfortable.” He also thought his reason behind it “was dishonest,” explaining:
“I have never experienced someone reaching out to me about a client’s weight. I felt that Mr. Baldoni’s explanation for his question was dishonest, given that, based on my understanding of Mr. Baldoni’s workout regimen, he would easily be able to perform a lift in a range that would include Ms. Lively.”
If that is the case, why did he really ask then? To humiliate her?
Don said he ultimately did not tell Justin how much Blake weighed and informed her about what happened, adding:
“Lively seemed embarrassed and hurt that Mr. Baldoni had asked about her weight without her permission.”
Oof…
That is so sad if true! What are your reactions, Perezcious readers? Tell us in the comments (below)!
[Image via Blake Lively/Instagram, WWD/Gent’s Talk Podcast/YouTube]
