In an escalating legal dispute, Justin Baldoni’s legal team has released raw, 

unedited footage from the film It Ends With Us to challenge allegations of sexual harassment made by his co-star, Blake Lively. 

The 10-minute video, shared by Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman and obtained by Page Six, was intended to provide context for a slow-dancing scene at the heart of Lively’s claims.

Allegations and Video Footage Context

Lively, 37, alleged in her December 2024 lawsuit that Baldoni, 40, acted inappropriately during the filming of a romantic slow-dancing scene, accusing him of crossing professional boundaries. 

In response, Baldoni’s legal team released footage from May 2023, asserting that it contradicts Lively’s description of events.

The footage begins with a statement emphasizing mutual respect and professionalism between the actors. It explains:

“The scene in question was designed to depict the characters falling in love and longing to be close. Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect.”

In the video, the actors are seen dancing in a bar as background extras cheer for a game. Their dialogue, captured on open microphones, includes lighthearted small talk about their respective spouses, Ryan Reynolds and Emily Baldoni. At one point, Lively playfully commented that speaking while dancing made the scene “more romantic.”

On-Set Interaction and Claims of Impropriety

The raw footage also captured moments of humor between the co-stars. When their noses touched during the dance, Lively joked, “I feel so nosey,” to which Baldoni responded, “I know. And my nose is so big.” Lively replied with mock seriousness, “Yes, I was hoping we could address this. It’s not too late,” even suggesting, in jest, that production could pause while he considered surgery.

In another segment, Baldoni joked about his beard potentially brushing against Lively, who responded that her spray tan might be rubbing off on him. Baldoni replied, “It smells good.”

However, Lively’s lawsuit paints a far different picture. She claimed Baldoni behaved inappropriately during the scene, alleging he “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear down her neck,” saying, “It smells so good.” Lively also stated that when she objected, Baldoni replied dismissively, “I’m not even attracted to you.”

Broader Allegations and Baldoni’s Response

The lawsuit further alleges that Baldoni engaged in other inappropriate behavior, including showing Lively explicit content, discussing personal matters like his past addiction, and requesting unscripted sex scenes. Lively also accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.

Freedman, representing Baldoni, vehemently denied these accusations, calling them “categorically false” and “intentionally salacious.” He added:

“These claims are outrageous and appear to be part of a calculated effort to harm Justin Baldoni and his professional reputation.”

Counter-Lawsuit and Further Legal Action

In a dramatic turn, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. His suit accuses the trio of disseminating edited and misleading information to damage his career and gain control over the production of It Ends With Us.

According to Baldoni’s team, Lively repeatedly “broke character” during filming, making it challenging for him to stay in his role. Freedman alleged:

“This lawsuit is based on overwhelming evidence of Blake Lively’s attempts to sabotage Justin Baldoni’s career through grossly manipulated narratives and doctored information.”

A Heated Legal Battle in the Public Eye

The release of the raw footage has further polarized public opinion. While some fans have rallied behind Baldoni, claiming the video shows no inappropriate behavior, others believe it doesn’t fully absolve him of the allegations. Lively’s team has yet to respond to the release of the footage or the counter-lawsuit.

As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, both parties are doubling down on their narratives, ensuring that the fallout from these claims will continue to generate headlines. With reputations, careers, and $400 million on the line, the final outcome of this dispute remains uncertain.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of navigating professional boundaries in Hollywood, where allegations of misconduct can have far-reaching consequences for all involved.

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