Newly surfaced footage from It Ends With Us has injected fresh drama into the ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, flipping parts of the case on its head.
Baldoni, 41 (who both directed and starred in the film) is now using a deleted scene to counter Lively’s claims of misconduct, alleging the actress engaged in the very behavior she says prompted her lawsuit.
Deleted Clip Becomes Central Evidence
According to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail, Baldoni’s legal team submitted a previously unseen video on November 13 as part of a motion for summary judgment.
The minute-long clip, recorded during a May 2023 hospital hallway scene, shows Lively’s character, Lily, approaching Baldoni’s Ryle, grabbing his arms and giving him a brief kiss before walking away.
Baldoni’s team says the moment was entirely unscripted and claims Lively not only approved it on set, but “oversaw” the scene and added the kiss in every take, despite the screenplay containing no such moment.
Lively, who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds, has argued in earlier filings that unwanted improvised kisses were part of a pattern of sexual harassment from Baldoni.
Lively’s Allegations About Producer Conduct
The resurfaced footage comes as Lively continues pressing for sanctions against producer Jamey Heath, alleging he failed to turn over required materials, including a video she says he once showed her on set without consent.
According to a November 3 letter from her team, Heath allegedly played Lively a graphic video of his fully nude wife giving birth at home, which she described as deeply inappropriate, PEOPLE detailed.
Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni of both sexual harassment and retaliation, claims he strongly denies.
When production resumed after the Hollywood strikes, Lively reportedly returned with strict conditions, including a ban on any further improvised kissing.
Baldoni’s team now argues that the newly uncovered clip contradicts her claims.
Earlier this year, Baldoni filed a defamation suit against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times over coverage of their conflict, a case ultimately dismissed in June.
Judge Dismisses Claims Against Social Media Strategist
Lively suffered a setback last week when a New York judge dismissed her claims against PR strategist Jed Wallace.
She alleged Wallace worked with Baldoni’s team to organize a coordinated online smear campaign during the film’s release.
Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively’s team failed to establish that Wallace, who lives in Texas, had enough ties to New York to be sued there, though she may still pursue a case in Texas.
A spokesperson for Lively said she is evaluating her options and preparing for a March trial against Baldoni, Heath, Nathan, and other Wayfarer Studios defendants.
Claims of a Digital Smear Campaign Intensify
The release of the deleted scene follows a separate filing accusing Baldoni and associates of using encrypted apps and auto-deleting communication tools to hide damaging evidence.
Lively’s attorneys argue that Baldoni and his team relied on apps such as Signal, disappearing voice memos, and other digital tools to coordinate a covert effort aimed at discrediting her, Daily Mail writes.
Baldoni and Lively on the set of It Ends With Us. Credit: Robert Kamau / Getty Images.
The claims echo similar accusations from a former employee of PR agency Jonesworks LLC, who alleged internal concerns about digital practices tied to the case.
Lawyers for Lively say Baldoni’s group “hid the ball at every turn,” forcing numerous motions over withheld or privileged documents.
Film’s Success Overshadowed by Off-Screen Conflict
It Ends With Us became a major box office hit, grossing $148 million domestically and $350 million worldwide.
But the escalating legal and public feud between its stars has overshadowed much of its success.
The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, follows Lily Bloom (played by Lively) as she builds a new life after a traumatic childhood and begins a relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), only to see troubling patterns emerge.