Blake Lively has publicly addressed the recent release of unedited footage by Justin Baldoni from their film It Ends With Us, after she accused him of sexual harassment. The actress, 37, claims that the footage, which shows all three takes of a dance scene between her and Baldoni, 40, highlights her visible discomfort during the scene.
In a statement shared by her legal team with Newsafro.com, Lively responded to Baldoni’s actions, suggesting that his attempt to release the footage was an effort to control the narrative and prevent the damaging evidence from surfacing. However, her team argued that the video only reinforces her claims, calling it “damning” and further highlighting the uncomfortable nature of the interaction.
This development has intensified the conversation surrounding consent, workplace behavior, and the responsibility of professionals in such environments. Lively’s statement aims to provide clarity on the situation and continue addressing the serious allegations made against Baldoni.
Blake Lively’s legal team has strongly criticized the unedited footage released by Justin Baldoni, asserting that it substantiates her claims of sexual harassment. According to the team, the video shows Baldoni repeatedly engaging in inappropriate physical behavior, including attempting to kiss Lively, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, complimenting her scent, and engaging in out-of-character conversation.
The statement further emphasizes that every frame of the footage aligns with the details Lively provided in her legal complaint, particularly in paragraph 48. Additionally, Lively’s lawyer clarified that none of the intimacy depicted in the footage was part of the film’s choreography, underlining the unprofessional and non-consensual nature of the actions. This has intensified the scrutiny around Baldoni’s conduct during the filming of It Ends With Us, a project where he both directed and starred alongside Lively.
Blake Lively’s legal team has condemned Justin Baldoni’s release of the unedited footage, asserting that it was an attempt to manipulate public perception and discredit her claims of sexual harassment. Lively’s lawyers have stressed that the video shows Baldoni’s actions were not choreographed and were executed without prior discussion or consent. They emphasize that Baldoni’s actions, including attempting to kiss Lively, rubbing his face against her neck, and making inappropriate comments, were all improvised, with no intimacy coordinator present during filming.
The legal team has also highlighted Lively’s visible discomfort during the scene, noting that her efforts to lean away from Baldoni and repeatedly request the characters to simply talk, rather than engage in physical intimacy, were genuine attempts to deflect unwanted advances. The team contends that this is a clear example of workplace harassment, with Lively trying to avoid being touched by her employer, who was not only her co-star but also her director and superior in the studio.
They further claim that Baldoni’s release of the footage is a retaliatory move, meant to manipulate the public narrative in his favor. The legal team remains firm in their stance that Baldoni and his associates should answer in court, under oath, rather than using media stunts to avoid accountability.
The video, obtained by Newsafro.com, provides evidence of the inappropriate behavior that Lively described in her lawsuit, including Baldoni’s comment about how good she smelled, which was captured in footage where the microphones were switched on. The footage also shows moments of laughter and light-heartedness between the stars before the situation took a troubling turn.
The recently released footage reveals a conversation between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni during the filming of It Ends With Us that casts the comments about her scent in a different light. In the clip, Baldoni’s comment about her “smelling good” is made in response to Lively mentioning her spray tan while they discuss the logistics of the scene. This conversation appears more light-hearted and professional, with the pair primarily discussing the technical aspects of filming and their personal lives.
Despite the seemingly cordial nature of the exchange, Lively’s legal team has maintained that the intimate moments captured in the video were not consensual and were improvised without prior discussion or consent, as the scene was being filmed. They claim that Baldoni’s actions, including the physical contact and comments, amounted to harassment and made Lively uncomfortable.
This footage, shared with Newsafro.com by Baldoni’s production company and lawyer, is the latest twist in a growing legal dispute that began with rumors of tensions on set and escalated into a lawsuit filed by Lively, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment. In addition to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni is involved in a defamation suit against The New York Times for its coverage of the allegations, and last week he filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of using their celebrity status to undermine his career.
The ongoing saga continues to draw attention to the behind-the-scenes dynamics of It Ends With Us and the serious allegations involving Baldoni and Lively.#newsafro_
