It started with a few awkward red carpet photos and ended in a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit. If you’ve been following the It Ends With Us drama, you know the vibe. One minute we’re all looking at floral dresses, and the next, there’s talk of "crisis PR" and "hostile work environments."
But the real turning point? That specific blake lively and justin baldoni video from the set that leaked—well, was intentionally released—to the public.
Honestly, the internet has been picking this apart like a forensic team. Some people see a director crossing lines. Others see an actress trying to "hijack" a movie. It’s messy. It's complicated. And if we’re being real, it’s a total case study in how Hollywood power dynamics can go sideways fast.
That "Dance Scene" Video: Breaking Down the Raw Footage
In January 2025, Justin Baldoni’s legal team basically dropped a bomb. They released about ten minutes of raw, unedited footage to TMZ. This wasn't just some random "behind-the-scenes" blooper reel. It was a strategic move to counter a sexual harassment complaint Blake Lively had filed with the California Civil Rights Department.
The video shows the two of them filming a slow-dance montage. It’s supposed to be a romantic, silent moment in the movie. But in the raw footage, you can hear everything. They’re wearing mics. They’re talking.
What the video actually shows:
- The "Nose" Joke: You hear Blake Lively make a joke about their noses touching, saying it feels "so nosey." Baldoni replies by joking about the size of his own nose. Blake then quips that he should get plastic surgery and that they should "shut down" production for a month to deal with it. She says she’s kidding. He laughs.
- The "Spray Tan" Comment: At one point, Blake mentions she’s probably getting spray tan on him. Baldoni responds, "It smells good."
- The Physicality: You see Baldoni leaning in, kissing her forehead, and rubbing his face against her neck.
Here’s the thing: Both sides used this exact same video to claim they were right.
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Lively’s lawyers argued the footage "corroborates to the letter" her claims of inappropriate, unscripted physical intimacy. They say she never consented to him flicking her lip or whispering about her scent. Baldoni’s team? They say the video shows a collaborative, lighthearted environment where both actors were joking around.
It’s wild how two people can look at the same ten minutes of film and see two completely different realities.
Why the Internet is Still Obsessed with This Feud
It wasn't just one video. Before the "official" leak, TikTok was already flooded with grainy fan-captured clips. One famous TikTok showed Blake and Justin appearing to have a "heated discussion" on a balcony in Hoboken.
Fans were convinced they were fighting.
They weren't.
Or at least, that's what sources told TMZ at the time—claiming they were just "talking between takes." But once the press tour started and it became clear that Blake and Justin weren't even in the same room for screenings, those old videos took on a new life.
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The PR Machine in Overdrive
By August 2024, Baldoni had hired Melissa Nathan—the same crisis PR expert who worked with Johnny Depp. That’s a "heavy hitter" move. Meanwhile, Blake was catching heat for her "Grab your friends, wear your florals" marketing, which many felt was way too bubbly for a movie about domestic violence.
The contrast was jarring.
Baldoni was doing solo interviews talking about the "cycle of abuse."
Lively was talking about her new haircare line and Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool cameos.
This disconnect fueled the fire. People started digging into old interviews, like the infamous 2016 clip with Kjersti Flaa where Blake made a snarky comment about the journalist's "little bump." Suddenly, the narrative wasn't just about a movie feud; it was about Blake’s reputation versus Justin’s professional conduct.
The Lawsuits: $400 Million and Counting
If you thought this was just "creative differences," think again. This went legal—fast.
- Lively's Complaint: In late 2024, she sued Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. She alleged sexual harassment, claiming he created a "hostile work environment" and even brought up an alleged "pornography addiction."
- Baldoni's Countersuit: He didn't just deny it; he went for the jugular with a $400 million lawsuit against Blake, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. He claimed "civil extortion" and defamation. He basically argued that Blake used her massive "Deadpool" influence to bully him out of his own movie.
- The "Nicepool" Allegation: In a truly bizarre twist, Baldoni even alleged that the "Nicepool" character in Deadpool & Wolverine—the one with the long hair and the "sensitive" vibe—was a direct parody meant to mock him.
Behind the Scenes: The Battle for the Final Cut
The most credible rumors suggest the "war" really happened in the editing room. Baldoni directed the film. It was his baby. He optioned the book back in 2019. But Blake was a producer, and she reportedly brought in her own editor (Shane Reid) to make a separate cut of the movie.
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Essentially, there were two versions of It Ends With Us.
The "Director’s Cut" and the "Blake Cut."
Reports suggest the version we saw in theaters was much closer to Blake’s vision. For a director, that’s the ultimate insult. For a lead actress and producer who knows her audience, it was "protecting the project."
What This Means for You (The Actionable Part)
The drama surrounding the blake lively and justin baldoni video is a reminder that what we see on screen—and on TikTok—is rarely the whole story.
If you're following this for the "tea," here are a few things to keep in mind for navigating celebrity news:
- Context is King: Raw footage can be edited or "context-stripped" to favor a specific side. Always look at who released the video and why.
- The "Discovery" Phase: Much of the evidence in this case (like unsealed texts where Baldoni called the production a "gigantic cluster f*ck") came out during legal discovery. Wait for court documents before taking a "side."
- PR is a Tool: Both stars used massive PR machines to shape the narrative. One focused on "survivorship" and "serious themes," while the other focused on "creative control" and "industry standards."
The trial is currently set for May 18, 2026, in New York. Until then, expect more leaks, more unsealed texts, and definitely more "Team Blake" vs. "Team Justin" debates on your FYP.
The "flower" power of Lily Bloom has turned into a thorny legal mess that Hollywood won't forget anytime soon.
Key Takeaways from the Legal Timeline
- May 2023: Filming starts, but is halted by the WGA strike.
- January 2024: Production resumes; tension is high.
- August 2024: The movie hits theaters, but the stars do not promote it together.
- December 2024: The first legal filings occur.
- January 2025: The "dance scene" video is released to the public.
- June 2025: Initial countersuits are dismissed, but the core harassment and breach of contract claims move forward.
- January 2026: Unsealed text messages reveal Baldoni feared a "trap" on set regarding intimate scenes.
Keep an eye on the New York court dockets as we head toward May. This is the rare celebrity "feud" that is actually going to be settled by a judge, not just a publicist's statement.