Actor Justin Baldoni is asking the court to dismiss a harassment lawsuit filed by Blake Lively, citing a deleted scene from their film It Ends With Us as evidence that Lively allegedly engaged in the same type of improvisational conduct she accuses him of. In the scene, Lively is seen improvising a romantic kiss, which Baldoni’s legal team argues mirrors the conduct central to Lively’s claims. NBC News legal analyst Misty Maris explained that the footage is relevant because it may challenge Lively’s credibility, although it is unlikely to be enough to have the case thrown out before trial. Motions for summary judgment are typically denied, as such cases are often determined by the jury’s assessment of credibility and intent.

Baldoni’s legal team is also highlighting newly surfaced text messages he sent to actor Rainn Wilson in January 2024. In these messages, Baldoni described a meeting at Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ New York City apartment where he felt “ambushed” and “emotionally paralyzed,” writing, “Ryan was talking to me like a 5-year-old and scolding me.” These texts are being presented to demonstrate Baldoni’s state of mind at the time of the alleged incidents, reinforcing his argument that he never intended to harass Lively.

In addition to the deleted scene and the texts, Baldoni accuses Lively and Reynolds of attempting to exert control over his film. His legal team suggests that these actions, combined with the evidence from the deleted scene, illustrate a pattern of behavior that contradicts the harassment allegations.

The case, which has drawn significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of those involved, is expected to hinge on questions of credibility, intent, and context. While the deleted scene may spark debate and public interest, legal analysts caution that the ultimate decision rests with the jury, who will weigh all available evidence, including Baldoni’s contemporaneous communications and the disputed film footage.

As the trial date approaches, both the video of the deleted scene and Baldoni’s text messages are likely to play a critical role in shaping the narrative and influencing the jury’s understanding of events, making this case a closely watched legal battle in Hollywood.