Blake Lively responds after Justin Baldoni released 'unethical' on-set footage to try dispel harassment rumors

Footage has been released revealing an insight into a scene between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment and allegedly taking part in a 'smear campaign' against her. Earlier this month, the A Simple Favor star filed another lawsuit for harassment and retaliation alleging Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior on-set - including in one scene where their characters perform a slow dance.

Baldoni has denied all the claims and his company filed its own suit against Lively last week. Yesterday (January 21), his legal team publicly released footage from the scene in question.

In the latest suit, Lively alleges Baldoni 'leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, 'It smells so good.'

And that Baldoni was 'caressing Lively with his mouth in a way that had nothing to do with their roles'.

Baldoni's team has since released a clip - made up of three takes from the sequence - which they claim is the entirety of the footage shot for the scene, Variety reports.

In the footage, Lively and Baldoni can be seen slow-dancing and speaking to one another - the audio seemingly not being required for the filming of the scene with the pair discussing whether or not to 'talk' in the scene or get 'lost' in the moment.

Lively argues she thinks it's 'more romantic' to be talking in the moment, with viewers left to question 'what are they saying'.

"Well, we have no issue talking most of the time," Baldoni responds, before noting viewers will 'never know' what they're really chatting about in the scene given it'll end up being played in 'slow motion'.

Before Baldoni then goes on to mention Lively's real-life partner, Ryan Reynolds and how they 'talk all the time'.

Baldoni then reflects on his own relationship with his partner Emily noting they have 'these moments' where they end up staring at each other even 'for five minutes', which he jokes Lively would find it 'terrifying' and she says: "Yeah, I'd be like, 'Oh no, I found a sociopath.'"

Baldoni calls Lively and Reynolds' relationship 'cute' and she responds: "It's more than cute."

Baldoni makes a comment about his nose being 'big' when Lively says how 'nosey' the scene is, with Lively continuing: "Yes, I was hoping that we could address this. [...] Just gotta shut down. Gotta call an insurance month and just deal with that."

Another part of the scene then shows it heating up, the pair nose-to-nose and Baldoni leaning closer.

Baldoni asks: "Am I getting beard on you today?"

Lively responds she's 'probably getting spray tan' on him, with Baldoni responding: "It smells good."

Baldoni's team stated alongside the footage: "Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism."

However, Lively's team has since responded to the footage, arguing it corroborates her account and is 'damning' of Baldoni.

The statement reads: "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."

Not only this, but Lively's team has slammed the release of the footage as 'an unethical attempt to manipulate the public'.

LADbible Group has contacted Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's representatives for comment.