The legal battle between ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star and director Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively is heating up as the two gear up to go to trial next year. However, Baldoni has now stepped in, asking the judge to dismiss the actress’ lawsuit. , Baldoni in a document, alleges that Lively improvised a kiss during filming a now-deleted scene. Lively’s lawsuit, filed earlier this year, accuses Baldoni of kissing her in scenes where no such intimacy was scripted, calling the incidents “improvised physical intimacy” that was neither rehearsed nor discussed. But in newly submitted court filings, Baldoni claimed that during a hospital scene later cut from the film, it was Lively who initiated an unscripted kiss.
Blake’s unscripted kiss
Baldoni shares videos
Baldoni attached the video of the scene as an exhibit, arguing it shows Lively briefly kissing him despite no such moment appearing in the script. He further claims Lively herself rewrote that portion of the screenplay.According to the documents, the scene in question was filmed after a January 2024 meeting between Baldoni’s team, Lively, Ryan Reynolds and producers, during which they addressed Lively’s sexual-harassment concerns and mutually agreed there would be no further improvisation, particularly regarding physical intimacy.
Blake’s creative authority
The filings also highlight what Baldoni describes as Lively’s creative authority on the production. He claims she “exercised control at every turn,” influencing shooting locations, scheduling, and script changes a point he argues undermines her claim to legal protections typically afforded to employees.Baldoni is now asking the judge to dismiss Lively’s lawsuit before trial, arguing that the newly submitted footage and the extent of Lively’s creative control contradict the claims at the heart of her case.The court has not yet ruled on the dismissal request.
