Blake Lively files gag order after Justin Baldoni releases raw footage

Blake Lively seeks a gag order on Justin Baldoni's lawyer after unedited It Ends With Us footage counters harassment claims.

 Lively's legal team filed the request on January 22, 2025, claiming that Bryan Freedman’s public statements about the case could influence the jury pool. The release of the raw footage, which depicts a slow-dance scene between Lively and Baldoni, was intended by Baldoni’s camp to refute Lively’s allegations.

In her lawsuit, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during filming, particularly citing an incident during a dance scene where Baldoni allegedly made inappropriate comments and touched her without consent. Lively’s team argued that the footage, showing unprofessional behavior from Baldoni, actually supports her claims of harassment, with the intimacy appearing unplanned and uncoordinated.

Freedman, however, argued that the footage demonstrates the professionalism of both actors and disputes Lively’s version of events. He claims the comments made during the scene were misinterpreted, while Lively’s legal team contends that Baldoni's behavior was uninvited and inappropriate.

Interestingly, Lively had initially welcomed the release of footage, suggesting it could prove her version of events. However, now that the unedited footage does not align with her account, she has sought to prevent further public statements from Baldoni’s legal team. 

Amid the legal battle, Lively’s camp continues to seek legal protection from further public statements, accusing Freedman of launching a "harassing media campaign." The conflict also involves accusations of defamation, with Baldoni filing a $250 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others involved in the film’s production. The case remains ongoing, with both parties preparing for future courtroom battles.