Blake Lively Fires Back At “It Ends With Us” Footage Released By Justin Baldoni’s Legal Team
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s collaboration on It Ends with Us has turned into a high-stakes legal drama. On January 21, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, released a behind-the-scenes video to TMZ, aiming to counter Blake’s sexual harassment allegations. The footage shows the pair filming a silent scene and joking about Baldoni’s nose and Lively’s spray tan.
However, Blake’s legal team quickly responded, claiming the video backs her allegations of unprofessional behavior and a toxic work environment. In her December 20 lawsuit, Blake accused Justin of inappropriate conduct, alleging that during a “slow dance scene,” he leaned in, dragged his lips down her neck, and said, “It smells so good.”
She also claimed he later dismissed her concerns by saying, “I’m not even attracted to you.”
According to Blake, Justin improvised physical interactions without her consent, including kissing her forehead, rubbing his face against her neck, and caressing her. Her lawyers emphasized the absence of an intimacy coordinator on set, adding that his actions caused her “grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety.”
Justin has denied the allegations and launched multiple counter-suits. On December 31, he sued The New York Times for libel, following their coverage of Blake’s accusations. Then, on January 16, he filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. In this suit, Justin alleged that Blake made disparaging remarks about his appearance during filming, even joking about him needing plastic surgery for his nose.
The video released by Justin’s team includes snippets of their light-hearted exchange about his nose, but Blake’s legal team described the footage as “damning.” They noted it shows Justin repeatedly leaning toward Blake, attempting to kiss her, and engaging in behavior outside the script.
In a statement, Blake’s legal team said, “The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her… Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present.”
The team added that releasing the footage to the media was an “unethical attempt to manipulate the public” and part of a broader campaign of harassment.
Justin’s attorneys have announced plans to launch a website containing correspondence and additional videos to challenge Blake’s claims.
