The ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and “It Ends With Us” co-star and director Justin Baldoni has another major update. New footage has surfaced showing a deleted hospital scene from the film, which Baldoni’s attorneys claim includes an unscripted kiss that Lively had initiated. Now, as the case moves closer to trial, both sides appear firm in their positions.
Blake Lively faces fresh challenge in legal battle with Justin Baldoni
PEOPLE reviewed court filings, reporting that Justin Baldoni’s legal team submitted the minute-long clip of Lively initiating a kiss as evidence in a motion filed on November 13. In the video, the actors — portraying Ryle and Lily — share a kiss that his lawyers claimed was not part of the original script, and alleged that Lively “oversaw” and “added” the kiss during the May 2023 filming.
The new claim comes months after Lively accused Baldoni of initiating unscripted and inappropriate kisses on set. In the lawsuit that she filed earlier this year, Lively stated she made it a condition of her return to the project that there be “no more improvising of kissing.” Baldoni has denied all allegations.
Meanwhile, his lawyers now argue that the newly revealed clip contradicts Lively’s earlier claims, pointing to it as an example of her allegedly improvising physical contact. The footage was recorded before production shut down during the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
It has been months since the legal fight between Lively and Baldoni first unfolded, drawing attention across Hollywood. Baldoni previously filed a $400 million lawsuit related to the same series of events, though the court has since dismissed the case. Additionally, the two actors will now appear in court in March when the current case goes to trial.
In their latest filings, Lively’s attorneys said they hold “extensive evidence of retaliation,” accusing Baldoni’s production companies of spreading negative content about her. But Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered. He told PEOPLE they “remain fully committed to pursuing the truth through every legal and factual avenue available.” Now, the legal battle continues to unfold with new revelations on each side.
Originally reported by Ishika Mishra on Reality Tea.
