Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Drops Shocking Footage That Completely Destroys Blake Lively’s Claims
Justin Baldoni’s legal team has just dropped explosive footage that they claim completely contradicts Blake Lively’s allegations, raising serious questions about her version of events.
In the ongoing legal dispute between It Ends With Us co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, new footage released by Baldoni’s legal team has set the stage for the latest round of claims and counterclaims. The video, which lasts nearly 10 minutes, aims to refute Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment and suggests that Baldoni acted with “respect and professionalism” during the filming of a key scene. The footage directly addresses claims made by Lively in her sexual harassment lawsuit, with Baldoni’s legal team arguing that the video contradicts Lively’s version of events.
Press play below.
The Accusations: Blake Lively’s Lawsuit and Baldoni’s Denial
In December 2023, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of their film It Ends With Us. According to Lively’s complaint, during the filming of a slow dance montage, Baldoni allegedly made an inappropriate comment, “it smells so good,” as he dragged his lips down her neck — an action Lively described as “not remotely in character, or based on any dialogue in the script.” Her lawsuit also claimed that Baldoni’s behavior during the scene went beyond what was necessary for the film, describing it as “caressing” that was not in line with their roles.
The legal battle intensified when Lively accused Baldoni of creating a “hostile work environment,” one that allegedly threatened to derail the production. She also accused him of orchestrating a media smear campaign to damage her reputation after she raised concerns about his behavior on set. Baldoni, for his part, has vehemently denied these accusations, maintaining that he always treated Lively with the utmost respect and professionalism.
The Newly Released Footage: Baldoni’s Legal Team Responds
On Tuesday, Justin Baldoni’s lawyer released footage from the set of It Ends With Us that they claim proves Lively’s allegations are unfounded. The video, captured on May 23, 2023, shows the two actors filming a scene for the slow dance montage in question, surrounded by extras on a busy set. In the footage, Baldoni and Lively can be seen speaking to each other about how to portray the intimate scene. At one point, Lively suggests to Baldoni that it might be “more romantic” for the characters to appear to be talking rather than kissing during the dance.
In one exchange, Baldoni leans in toward Lively and jokingly asks, “Am I getting beard on you today?” Lively laughs and responds, “I’m probably getting spray-tan on you,” to which Baldoni replies, “It smells good.” The three takes captured in the video, while not showing every moment of the scene, present a much more lighthearted atmosphere than Lively’s accusations suggest. Baldoni’s legal team contends that the video shows both actors behaving “well within the scope of the scene” and with “mutual respect and professionalism.”
“The following videos captured on May 23, 2023 clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior,” Baldoni’s lawyer said in a statement accompanying the footage. “The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another.” The lawyer further emphasized that both actors were “clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”
Lively’s Legal Team Responds: “Damning” Evidence
In response to the released footage, Lively’s legal team quickly fired back with a statement, arguing that the video actually corroborates Lively’s version of events. They specifically pointed to Lively’s discomfort during the scene, stating that “every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her Complaint.”
Lively’s representatives argue that the video shows Lively attempting to distance herself from Baldoni’s advances while also trying to maintain a light atmosphere by laughing off the situation. “No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent,” they stated, further accusing Baldoni of orchestrating a “stunt” to get ahead of “damaging evidence” against him.
Lively’s team pointed out that, in the footage, Lively can be seen “leaning away” and repeatedly asking for the characters to “just talk” instead of engaging in physical contact, which they describe as an attempt to deflect Baldoni’s unwanted behavior. “Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort,” they added.
The Legal Fallout: Baldoni’s Counter-Suits
As the legal battle drags on, both sides continue to accuse the other of misconduct. Beyond the lawsuit filed by Lively, Baldoni has taken aggressive legal action of his own. He filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times in December, claiming that the newspaper’s coverage of Lively’s allegations contained inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions that painted him in an unfair light. Additionally, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane on January 16, accusing them of damaging his reputation and conspiring to undermine his career.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Baldoni’s team has announced plans to launch a website featuring additional correspondence and video footage, which they hope will further discredit Lively’s claims and bolster their defense.
What’s Next for ‘It Ends With Us’ and Its Stars?
As the legal drama continues, it remains unclear how the situation will impact the future of It Ends With Us and its stars. The film, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, has already faced significant setbacks due to the public nature of the allegations. It’s unclear whether the controversy will affect the film’s release or how the ongoing legal battle will play out.
In the meantime, both Lively and Baldoni appear determined to fight for their respective reputations, each presenting a vastly different narrative about what occurred on the set of It Ends With Us. Only time will tell how this high-profile legal battle will conclude.
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