Blake Lively Quickly Rebukes Justin Baldoni For Releasing ‘It Ends With Us’ Footage
Blake Lively has fired back at Justin Baldoni over his release of behind-the-scenes footage from It Ends With Us. The footage, dropped on January 21, 2025, is Baldoni’s latest attempt to counter Lively’s claims of sexual harassment during the film’s production. Lively’s legal team swiftly responded, denouncing the move as both unethical and incriminating.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Lively’s attorneys from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Willkie Farr & Gallagher accused Baldoni of releasing selectively edited footage to discredit her claims. “Justin Baldoni and his lawyer may hope that this latest stunt will get ahead of the damaging evidence against him, but the video itself is damning,” the statement read.
The controversy stems from Lively’s December 20, 2024, sexual harassment and retaliation complaint filed with California’s Civil Rights Department. She alleges that Baldoni, who served as her co-star and director on the film, engaged in repeated inappropriate behavior without her consent.
The footage released by Baldoni reportedly shows several interactions between the two, including moments where Baldoni leaned in, kissed Lively’s forehead, and touched her without prior discussion or the presence of an intimacy coordinator. Lively’s attorneys argue the footage corroborates her claims, directly referencing details outlined in Paragraph 48 of her complaint.
The legal battle has escalated rapidly, with lawsuits flying on both sides. On January 16, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion suit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and several others. He also filed a $250 million defamation suit against the New York Times on January 1, accusing the publication of publishing damaging falsehoods.
Lively, in turn, has launched her own lawsuit against Baldoni, his studio Wayfarer, and his public relations team. She alleges systemic retaliation and a toxic work environment that enabled Baldoni’s behavior.
The stakes are high for both parties, as the dispute has spilled into the public eye and affected their professional reputations. Baldoni, known for his work as an actor and director, has been accused of leveraging his power on set to blur professional boundaries. Meanwhile, Lively, a respected actress and advocate for women’s rights, has framed her claims as part of a broader fight for accountability in Hollywood.
Baldoni’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “revoltingly false” and part of a smear campaign. In a statement, his lawyer emphasized the importance of addressing false accusations but did not comment on the specifics of the footage.
The timing of the release has also drawn criticism. Lively’s team pointed out that Baldoni’s decision to share the footage comes just days after Lively’s initial filing, which they believe is an attempt to manipulate public opinion.
As tensions rise, industry insiders are closely watching the fallout. Lively and Baldoni’s dispute touches on broader issues of power dynamics and the responsibility of leaders in the entertainment industry. The involvement of high-profile names like Ryan Reynolds and the New York Times has only added to the case’s complexity.
For now, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Lively’s team insists that every frame of the footage supports her claims, while Baldoni’s camp argues the opposite. With lawsuits pending and public scrutiny intensifying, this dispute shows no signs of resolution anytime soon.
The legal and reputational ramifications for both Lively and Baldoni are immense. Hollywood’s history with similar cases suggests that the outcome could set a precedent for how such disputes are handled in the future.
As of now, neither Lively nor Baldoni has personally addressed the public about the ongoing feud. Both rely on their legal teams to navigate the complexities of the case. However, one thing is clear: the battle for the truth, as both parties see it, has only just begun.
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