Blake Lively’s lawyers say the raw 10 minutes of “It Ends With Us” footage released Tuesday by Justin Baldoni’s attorney, is “damning” and proves her sexual harassment claims, while the actor-director says the interaction clears his name.
The clip, obtained by multiple outlets, shows three takes the actors filmed on May 23, 2023 from a slow-motion dance scene in the early days of their characters’ eventually abusive romance. The scene is cited in 37-year-old Lively’s complaint and sexual harassment lawsuit, both filed against Baldoni, 40, late last month.
She also accused him of a retaliatory smear campaign, as covered in-depth by The New York Times — for which Baldoni is now suing the outlet.
“The video itself is damning,” Lively’s lawyers said in a statement to People. “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present.”
Lively’s team says viewers “will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching” by Baldoni, who was both director and co-star.
“I think it’s more romantic if we’re dancing and talking,” Lively says of the characters, Lily and Ryle, early in the first take. She repeatedly suggests “talking” when Baldoni caresses.
The actors later attribute their approaches to how they interact with their respective spouses.
“I know you and Ryan talk all the time,” Baldoni says of Lively and Ryan Reynolds, 48, who he’s also named in his $400 million lawsuit against the couple and Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane. Last week, Baldoni accused the trio of multiple offenses, including defamation, civil extortion, and interference with contractual relations.
“Oh my gosh, we don’t shut up,” Lively agrees.
Baldoni says he and wife Emily, rather, go several minutes staring at one another, which Lively said would make her fear she’d “found a sociopath.”
As Lively further describes her dynamic with Reynolds, Baldoni calls them “really cute.” Lively argues, “I think it’s more than cute,” to which Baldoni concedes.
During some nuzzling on Baldoni’s part, Lively says she feels “so ‘nosey.’ I mean it’s like just noses.” He jokes that his “nose is so big” and Lively enthusiastically agrees and jokes about a nose job.
Baldoni seems to take it in stride, though he then says that’s why he cast Jenny Slate as his sister, because their “noses match.”
The second take addresses another part of Lively’s claim, in which she accuses Baldoni of randomly remarking on how she smells. As he nuzzles her neck, he remarks that he’s probably getting his beard on Lively, who says she’s “probably getting spray tan on you.”
“It smells good,” he laughs. She then notes it’s actually her body makeup. Another almost kiss, Lively turns slightly, before Baldoni twirls her away and says that they “got plenty.”
“Yes, we did,” Lively says, slightly clipped.
The third take is less clear as far as audio, though Baldoni can be heard saying he’ll let Lively direct this one. As they cut, he calls the take, a “Blake Lively special.”
