Blake Lively Responds to Controversial Footage Release

Blake Lively Responds to Controversial Footage Release

Blake Lively has publicly addressed the recent release of raw footage from the set of It Ends With Us, as part of a legal dispute with the film’s director and actor, Justin Baldoni.

The footage was unveiled by Baldoni and his legal team as part of their defense after Lively accused him of sexual harassment. The actress, 37, spoke out following the release of the unedited video, which she asserts only strengthens her allegations and reveals the discomfort she experienced during filming.

Lively’s legal team argues that the video, which features several takes of a dance scene between her and Baldoni, 40, serves as significant evidence in the case. “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,” Lively’s lawyer stated in an interview with TMZ. They further claim that the footage depicts Baldoni repeatedly making inappropriate advances toward Lively, including attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, complimenting her scent, and speaking with her out of character.

The actress’s legal team stresses that every moment in the footage aligns perfectly with Lively’s description in her original complaint, particularly in paragraph 48, where she outlines her discomfort with Baldoni’s behavior. The lawyers emphasized that none of the interactions in the video were choreographed and were instead improvised by Baldoni without prior consent or discussion. Furthermore, they pointed out that there was no intimacy coordinator present during the filming of the scene.

Lively’s team also highlighted Baldoni’s power dynamics on set, noting that Baldoni was not only her co-star but also the director, studio head, and her employer, which they argue made the situation even more egregious. They highlighted her visible discomfort in the video, where she can be seen physically leaning away from Baldoni. The footage reportedly shows Lively asking multiple times for the characters to simply talk, rather than engaging in the unscripted physical moments.

“Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort,” her lawyer commented, adding that Lively’s attempts to deflect unwanted touching were made in a bid to protect herself from further harm. “No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent.”

In response to the release of the footage, Lively’s team criticized the move as a manipulative attempt to sway public opinion and labeled it part of an ongoing retaliatory campaign. “We are continuing our efforts to require Mr. Baldoni and his associates to answer in court, under oath, rather than through manufactured media stunts,” Lively’s lawyer concluded, underscoring their commitment to seeking justice through legal channels.