Blake Lively Co-Star Leaks Footage He Says Proves She Lied

Blake Lively’s director and co-star Justin Baldoni is fighting to clear his name after her lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. And now, his legal team has provided the Daily Beast with raw footage from their film It Ends With Us that they say “clearly refutes Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior.” But in a separate statement, Lively’s lawyers say the video actually “corroborates” her complaint.

The footage shows the two stars filming a slow-dance that ended up appearing the film in slow motion, without audible dialogue, as part of a larger montage. The scene was originally highlighted by Lively, who alleged in her lawsuit against Baldoni in December that he “leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, ‘it smells so good,’” as an example to support her sexual harassment claim.

Lively’s suit also says that “When [she] later objected to this behavior, Mr. Baldoni’s response was, ‘I’m not even attracted to you.’”

In response, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman emailed the Daily Beast what they are claiming to be “all three takes filmed in the sequence,” which was shot on May 23, 2023. “Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism,” a note at the top of the video reads.

The successive takes show Baldoni and Lively talking as they film the sequence, which was “designed to show the two characters falling in love,” Freedman says. They can be heard chatting about the best ways to perform the scene, during which Lively may have been unaware she was being recorded. According to Baldoni’s lawsuit against her, “Lively incorrectly alleges that this scene was filmed without sound. Baldoni was wearing a microphone, and the entire exchange is captured on camera.”

During the takes, Lively makes suggestions about what would make the scene “more romantic,” and the two ultimately discuss their spouses. After Baldoni shares that he and his wife “stare” lovingly into each others’ eyes “for like five minutes” straight, Lively jokes that he’s a “sociopath” and shares that she and husband Ryan Reynolds prefer to talk instead.

Baldoni responds that she and Reynolds are “really cute” together, to which Lively responds, “I think it’s more than cute.” She later makes a joke about Baldoni’s nose, quipping that he should consider plastic surgery, before adding, “Just kidding.”

“That’s why we hired Jenny Slate,” Baldoni says of the actress who plays his sister in the film. “Our noses match.”

As for Lively’s claim about Baldoni complimenting her “smell,” the video also sheds light on what that moment looked like. As Baldoni nuzzles into her neck, Lively jokes that she is probably getting her “spray tan” all over him. “It smells good,” Baldoni replies with a laugh.

When, towards the end of the 10 minute video, Baldoni yells “cut” and says, “I think we got plenty,” Lively quickly responds, “Yes, we did.”

Freedman tells the Daily Beast, “Justin Baldoni and team have nothing to hide. And this video, once more proves this.” He adds that his team will be launching a website “containing all correspondence as well as relevant videos that directly quash [Lively’s] claims.”

Lively’s statement in response to Baldoni’s lawsuit reads in part, “This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook. This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.”

The Daily Beast has reached out to representatives for Lively for comment in response to the footage and did not receive a response.

However, in a statement to TMZ, Lively’s legal team said the footage only helps to prove her point. “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 reads. “Every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her Complaint.”

“The video shows Mr. Baldoni repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking her lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character,” the statement continues. “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.”

It goes on to say, “The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk. Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort. They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching.”

“No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent,” the statement concludes.