1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:11,367 --> 00:00:14,867 [Aaron] When I moved to Hoboken about a dozen years ago, it just 4 00:00:15,033 --> 00:00:18,567 struck me just how friendly and how small town it felt. 5 00:00:20,967 --> 00:00:25,667 So what you see behind me here is the actual location for 6 00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:29,000 Lily Bloom's flower shop in the film "It Ends with Us." 7 00:00:32,467 --> 00:00:35,367 A scout reached out to me and said that they were 8 00:00:35,533 --> 00:00:37,467 interested in seeing if it would work for 9 00:00:37,634 --> 00:00:38,767 an upcoming film. 10 00:00:38,767 --> 00:00:41,266 So I was going through the contract, and I was showing 11 00:00:41,433 --> 00:00:43,567 it to my wife, and when she read the title, 12 00:00:43,734 --> 00:00:45,900 "It Ends with Us," she froze. 13 00:00:46,066 --> 00:00:48,300 She actually picked up the book off the bookshelf. 14 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:49,567 More than three years on 15 00:00:49,734 --> 00:00:51,000 a New York Times best-sellers list, 16 00:00:51,166 --> 00:00:52,200 that's a long time. 17 00:00:52,367 --> 00:00:53,467 [paparazzi] Can you turn this way? 18 00:00:53,634 --> 00:00:54,667 [paparazzi Justin, right here. 19 00:00:54,834 --> 00:00:58,767 The movie came out in the summer of 2024. 20 00:01:00,367 --> 00:01:04,300 Social media noticed that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni 21 00:01:04,467 --> 00:01:06,867 were not doing any press together 22 00:01:06,867 --> 00:01:10,100 for a movie where they are the co-leads. 23 00:01:10,266 --> 00:01:11,467 [woman 2] "It Ends with Us." 24 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:13,000 [voices overlapping] "It Ends with Us." "It Ends with Us." 25 00:01:13,166 --> 00:01:15,300 "It Ends with Us." "It Ends with Us." 26 00:01:15,467 --> 00:01:17,667 "It Ends with Us" is about domestic violence, 27 00:01:17,834 --> 00:01:20,700 but the message of the film has been clouded because 28 00:01:20,867 --> 00:01:23,100 of the scandal around its stars. 29 00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:26,200 She claims that there was sexual harassment on set. 30 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,667 Maybe this guy isn't the guy that you think he is. 31 00:01:29,834 --> 00:01:32,667 And then a big jaw-drop moment. 32 00:01:32,834 --> 00:01:34,767 [suspenseful music playing] 33 00:01:34,767 --> 00:01:39,500 He claims civil extortion, defamation, and that all of 34 00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:42,567 this really is about her wanting to have control 35 00:01:42,567 --> 00:01:44,400 of the movie. 36 00:01:44,567 --> 00:01:46,400 [ID] Is Blake Lively a victim? 37 00:01:46,567 --> 00:01:48,266 That is the question. 38 00:01:48,433 --> 00:01:51,200 This is, like, the most high-school fight that 39 00:01:51,367 --> 00:01:53,967 people with millions of dollars can have with each other. 40 00:01:54,133 --> 00:01:56,166 The longer this goes on, 41 00:01:56,333 --> 00:01:59,500 the more reputational damage they will suffer. 42 00:02:00,867 --> 00:02:03,166 [ID] This isn't just a fluffy celebrity feud. 43 00:02:03,333 --> 00:02:06,066 The actual story is, I think, a lot darker and a lot more 44 00:02:06,233 --> 00:02:07,166 complex than that. 45 00:02:15,266 --> 00:02:19,400 I work on crisis communication plans, lifestyle PR, 46 00:02:19,567 --> 00:02:21,567 and strategic public relations. 47 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,300 But also, I am a huge Colleen Hoover fan. 48 00:02:26,467 --> 00:02:27,467 I've read all of her books. 49 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:32,166 Every single one, probably once or twice. 50 00:02:32,166 --> 00:02:35,967 So, I'm familiar with the book and was really excited 51 00:02:36,133 --> 00:02:38,333 for the movie. 52 00:02:40,767 --> 00:02:43,967 [Sheinelle] It follows Lily Bloom, who moves to Boston to fulfill 53 00:02:44,133 --> 00:02:45,567 her dream of opening a flower shop. 54 00:02:45,734 --> 00:02:48,400 After a chance encounter with a neurosurgeon, 55 00:02:48,567 --> 00:02:51,000 a relationship quickly heats up between the two of them. 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,400 [Matthew] On TikTok, certain books go viral, and Colleen Hoover's 57 00:02:54,567 --> 00:02:56,300 novels, in particular, "It Ends with Us," 58 00:02:56,467 --> 00:02:58,000 became incredibly popular on there. 59 00:02:58,166 --> 00:03:00,800 A woman got verbally and physically abused 60 00:03:00,967 --> 00:03:02,867 and made it out on the other end. 61 00:03:02,867 --> 00:03:06,066 The domestic violence aspect of it is something that really 62 00:03:06,233 --> 00:03:08,800 caught people's because it covered the serious topic while 63 00:03:08,967 --> 00:03:11,567 still doing it in a way that felt engaging and accessible. 64 00:03:11,734 --> 00:03:14,767 And that really gave studio executives in Hollywood 65 00:03:14,767 --> 00:03:18,066 a feeling that young people were interested in the novel, 66 00:03:18,233 --> 00:03:21,767 and that if they optioned it, as Justin Baldoni did, 67 00:03:21,767 --> 00:03:23,900 that it could turn into something that 68 00:03:24,066 --> 00:03:26,000 people would show up at the theaters for. 69 00:03:30,667 --> 00:03:31,967 [Tia] I'm an actress. 70 00:03:32,133 --> 00:03:34,266 I worked with Justin Baldoni 71 00:03:34,266 --> 00:03:37,100 on the set of "Jane the Virgin" many years ago. 72 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:39,166 ["Jane the Virgin" narrator] This seems like a good time to catch up on 73 00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:40,467 what Rafael has been up to. 74 00:03:40,467 --> 00:03:44,066 I was actually playing one of his girlfriends. 75 00:03:44,233 --> 00:03:46,800 ["Jane the Virgin" narrator] He has, in fact, been having sex. 76 00:03:46,967 --> 00:03:50,567 Lots and lots of sex, with a lot of different women. 77 00:03:52,066 --> 00:03:55,467 He was very down-to-earth, very considerate. 78 00:03:55,634 --> 00:03:58,166 He just wanted to make sure that everything in 79 00:03:58,166 --> 00:03:59,200 our scene worked. 80 00:03:59,367 --> 00:04:01,400 [keyboard tapping] 81 00:04:01,567 --> 00:04:04,400 I started following him on social media and just kind of 82 00:04:04,567 --> 00:04:05,800 kept up with everything else 83 00:04:05,967 --> 00:04:07,867 that he was doing outside of acting. 84 00:04:07,867 --> 00:04:08,900 [audience clapping] 85 00:04:09,066 --> 00:04:11,000 [Emily] Justin has this platform. 86 00:04:11,166 --> 00:04:15,100 He did a TED Talk about debunking toxic masculinity. 87 00:04:15,266 --> 00:04:17,500 I don't just want to be a good man, 88 00:04:19,467 --> 00:04:20,467 I want to be a good human. 89 00:04:20,634 --> 00:04:23,000 And he started a podcast, "Man Enough." 90 00:04:23,166 --> 00:04:26,900 What would the world look like if our boys 91 00:04:27,066 --> 00:04:29,900 got to grow up and feel that men were safe spaces 92 00:04:30,066 --> 00:04:31,333 and safe places? 93 00:04:31,333 --> 00:04:35,300 In 2019, when Justin acquired the rights from Colleen Hoover, 94 00:04:35,467 --> 00:04:36,967 it was really aligned with his brand. 95 00:04:37,133 --> 00:04:38,900 [up-tempo violin music playing] 96 00:04:40,367 --> 00:04:43,800 The "Ends with Us" story first hit my radar when Blake Lively 97 00:04:43,967 --> 00:04:47,100 was cast -- I covered her casting news. 98 00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:49,767 She's a household name. 99 00:04:49,767 --> 00:04:53,867 I understand why you'd want to go for someone with a pretty 100 00:04:54,033 --> 00:04:56,400 solid commercial track record. 101 00:04:56,567 --> 00:04:57,867 The cast for "It Ends with Us" has officially 102 00:04:57,867 --> 00:04:59,200 been announced, and I am unwell. 103 00:04:59,367 --> 00:05:01,166 Lily Bloom is gonna be played by none other than 104 00:05:01,333 --> 00:05:02,800 Blake Lively. What? 105 00:05:02,967 --> 00:05:03,800 [man] Hey, Blake! 106 00:05:03,967 --> 00:05:06,066 [Emily] This breakthrough role was 107 00:05:06,233 --> 00:05:08,567 "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." 108 00:05:08,734 --> 00:05:12,867 Rule number 11 -- "In the event of an emergency, the pants will 109 00:05:13,033 --> 00:05:14,967 automatically go to the sister in need." 110 00:05:15,133 --> 00:05:18,400 And she got really famous with "Gossip Girl." 111 00:05:18,567 --> 00:05:22,000 She's also known as being Taylor Swift's best friend, 112 00:05:22,967 --> 00:05:25,767 and, yeah, of course she's married to Ryan Reynolds. 113 00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:29,800 [Green Lantern] Evening, ma'am. 114 00:05:29,967 --> 00:05:34,266 Blake and Ryan met on "Green Lantern" and hit it off. 115 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,667 Now they are the Hollywood power couple. 116 00:05:39,667 --> 00:05:44,500 She has a persona in the public eye 117 00:05:44,667 --> 00:05:49,100 of being fun and fashionable and trendy 118 00:05:49,266 --> 00:05:51,567 and all of the things that I think most women 119 00:05:51,734 --> 00:05:52,834 really aspire to be. 120 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,100 The fact that Justin Baldoni's name was mentioned 121 00:05:58,266 --> 00:06:01,367 along with someone who is a big A-list celebrity, 122 00:06:01,533 --> 00:06:04,000 also married to an A-lister. 123 00:06:04,967 --> 00:06:09,200 It makes sense why this became such big headline news. 124 00:06:11,667 --> 00:06:15,400 [Aaron] Hoboken being such a small town, word travels fast. 125 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:20,200 When the first day of shooting arrived, 126 00:06:20,367 --> 00:06:25,467 people were lining the streets to catch a glimpse of, you know, 127 00:06:25,467 --> 00:06:28,900 Hollywood in our small town. 128 00:06:29,066 --> 00:06:31,266 The crew from L.A. put layers upon layers of 129 00:06:31,266 --> 00:06:33,600 wallpaper to age this space, 130 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,000 and then they would redo the entire interior once again, 131 00:06:38,166 --> 00:06:40,867 and this time transforming it into the flower shop. 132 00:06:40,867 --> 00:06:42,166 [knocking] 133 00:06:42,333 --> 00:06:43,467 OK, here we go. 134 00:06:43,467 --> 00:06:45,166 [laughing] 135 00:06:45,166 --> 00:06:46,600 -Wow. -[Allysa] Yeah. 136 00:06:46,767 --> 00:06:48,967 This doesn't even look like the same shop. 137 00:06:49,133 --> 00:06:51,767 At the conclusion, Justin invited me over. 138 00:06:51,934 --> 00:06:56,000 He raised his hands up, and I raised mine to mirror him, 139 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,800 and it was just a very special moment to share. 140 00:06:58,967 --> 00:07:01,567 [car horns honking] 141 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:07,467 The film premiered in New York City on August 6, 2024. 142 00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:10,166 [paparazzi] Justin, right here! Justin, right here! 143 00:07:10,333 --> 00:07:11,600 [crowd] Solo! Solo! 144 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,867 -[overlapping voices shouting] -[paparazzi] Justin, right here! 145 00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:16,867 Things felt like they were off at the premiere. 146 00:07:18,667 --> 00:07:22,900 Social media noticed that Blake Lively 147 00:07:23,066 --> 00:07:26,467 and Justin Baldoni were not doing any press together. 148 00:07:26,467 --> 00:07:28,266 What is going on with 149 00:07:28,266 --> 00:07:30,066 Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? 150 00:07:30,233 --> 00:07:31,767 Have you heard anything 151 00:07:31,767 --> 00:07:34,367 about the rift happening behind the scenes? 152 00:07:34,367 --> 00:07:38,166 For a movie where they are the co-leads, 153 00:07:38,166 --> 00:07:40,367 that is highly unusual. 154 00:07:41,467 --> 00:07:44,467 [Matthew] There seemed to be this sort of tension around it, 155 00:07:44,467 --> 00:07:47,567 but nobody could quite put their finger on 156 00:07:47,734 --> 00:07:49,000 what to make of it yet. 157 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,667 We do have "It Starts with Us," 158 00:07:50,834 --> 00:07:53,500 so I'm hoping to see you back in the double-duty role. 159 00:07:53,667 --> 00:07:55,800 When Justin was asked about the sequel, 160 00:07:55,967 --> 00:07:57,266 it was kind of surprising. 161 00:07:57,266 --> 00:07:59,867 I think there are better people for that one. 162 00:07:59,867 --> 00:08:02,000 I think Blake Lively's ready to direct, that's what I think. 163 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,200 He definitely alluded to him not taking on the role 164 00:08:06,367 --> 00:08:10,400 of director, but maybe alluding to Blake should do it next time, 165 00:08:10,567 --> 00:08:11,834 which was a little strange. 166 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,200 I mean, at that point, that's where the rumor mill starts. 167 00:08:17,367 --> 00:08:18,300 [paparazzi] Ladies, together this way. 168 00:08:18,467 --> 00:08:20,000 Ladies, together, this way over here. 169 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,400 I saw rumblings on social media hypothesizing that there had 170 00:08:24,567 --> 00:08:27,567 been some kind of falling out on set, because people noticed 171 00:08:27,567 --> 00:08:30,867 that essentially all of the cast had unfollowed 172 00:08:30,867 --> 00:08:32,000 Justin Baldoni. 173 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,567 [indistinct chatter] 174 00:08:33,567 --> 00:08:36,700 One headline said that Justin Baldoni was 175 00:08:36,867 --> 00:08:38,400 banished to the basement. 176 00:08:38,567 --> 00:08:41,166 He wasn't even allowed to be seen on the red carpet 177 00:08:41,166 --> 00:08:44,500 with Blake and with the rest of his co-stars. 178 00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:46,867 And he and his family actually had to watch it 179 00:08:47,033 --> 00:08:48,967 in a separate location. 180 00:08:49,133 --> 00:08:50,500 He said, "I wasn't allowed to be seen. 181 00:08:50,667 --> 00:08:53,266 "She didn't want me anywhere near her or the rest of the cast. 182 00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:55,500 "So they ushered me off the carpet and sent us down 183 00:08:55,667 --> 00:08:56,800 to the basement." 184 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,767 There are countless feuds in Hollywood between actors, 185 00:08:59,934 --> 00:09:01,600 between directors and stars. 186 00:09:01,767 --> 00:09:05,066 It's very rare at a premiere for them not to, you know, 187 00:09:05,233 --> 00:09:07,166 at least look like they're buddy-buddy. 188 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,700 "It Ends with Us" was a financially successful movie. 189 00:09:13,867 --> 00:09:17,867 It made way more than it cost to film and market the movie, 190 00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:22,767 and there was also a lot of hope that the very important 191 00:09:22,767 --> 00:09:26,300 topic of domestic violence would be 192 00:09:26,467 --> 00:09:28,400 resonating with the masses. 193 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:32,467 That was it. 194 00:09:32,634 --> 00:09:36,100 The story began in the summer of 2024, 195 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:39,800 and it was nonstop after that. 196 00:09:39,967 --> 00:09:42,400 During the entire promotion of this film, Blake Lively 197 00:09:42,567 --> 00:09:45,166 hasn't been seen with Justin, the main actor and director. 198 00:09:45,166 --> 00:09:47,800 But of course, fans are theorizing, as fans do. 199 00:09:47,967 --> 00:09:49,266 [Emily] And boom, you have a feud. 200 00:09:49,266 --> 00:09:51,700 There was serious beef between Baldoni and Lively. 201 00:09:51,867 --> 00:09:54,667 The treating of this as just kind of a fluffy 202 00:09:54,667 --> 00:09:55,967 celebrity feud -- 203 00:09:56,133 --> 00:09:58,467 the actual story is, I think, a lot darker and a lot more 204 00:09:58,467 --> 00:09:59,900 complex than that. 205 00:10:02,367 --> 00:10:07,000 I had been covering celebrities across three decades, 206 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,600 and I had not seen a story this big... 207 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:12,700 period. 208 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:19,000 [overlapping voices] Blake, right here. Blake, right here. 209 00:10:19,166 --> 00:10:23,066 [Perez] At the time of the release of "It Ends with Us," Blake Lively 210 00:10:23,233 --> 00:10:26,367 was getting a lot of negative feedback on social media. 211 00:10:26,533 --> 00:10:29,867 Director, we didn't have one of those for this movie. 212 00:10:30,033 --> 00:10:33,867 [Perez] It seemed like everything she was saying 213 00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:36,367 was rubbing social media the wrong way. 214 00:10:36,367 --> 00:10:38,066 Look at me in flowers, Lily Bloom. 215 00:10:38,233 --> 00:10:39,367 It's neoprene. 216 00:10:39,367 --> 00:10:43,800 There were so many strange memes right after and videos 217 00:10:43,967 --> 00:10:46,100 about, like, kind of being difficult to work with. 218 00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:47,166 [woman 2] Congrats on the premiere. 219 00:10:47,166 --> 00:10:49,066 And congrats on being a fat bitch. 220 00:10:49,233 --> 00:10:53,400 This, I think, really launched this "mean girl" energy. 221 00:10:53,567 --> 00:10:55,800 People were making a big deal of her promoting 222 00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:57,100 all of her businesses. 223 00:10:57,100 --> 00:10:58,567 -I'll start here. -OK. 224 00:10:58,734 --> 00:11:01,000 And it's dry shampoo, but really, you know, 225 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,600 it smells amazing. 226 00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:04,667 [Perez] While shying away from 227 00:11:04,667 --> 00:11:07,700 the very important topic of domestic violence. 228 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:11,300 [reporter] What has been the best part in making this particular movie? 229 00:11:11,467 --> 00:11:15,667 I've noticed so many beautiful crystals on teeth. 230 00:11:15,667 --> 00:11:16,967 Is that a big fashion thing? 231 00:11:17,133 --> 00:11:20,000 [TikToker] Using a movie about domestic violence to sell stuff? 232 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,166 It's not a good look. 233 00:11:21,333 --> 00:11:24,467 She was full of giggles and laughter, 234 00:11:24,634 --> 00:11:27,266 and, oh, wanted to promote her liquor brand. 235 00:11:27,266 --> 00:11:30,000 Like nothing says domestic violence 236 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:31,700 like a bottle of tequila. What? 237 00:11:31,867 --> 00:11:33,500 [Natasha] On social media especially, 238 00:11:33,667 --> 00:11:37,667 there was criticism of the way that she would kind of be 239 00:11:37,667 --> 00:11:39,367 perhaps a little bit lighthearted during 240 00:11:39,367 --> 00:11:40,467 certain interviews. 241 00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:49,900 There was an interview with a journalist that portrayed 242 00:11:50,066 --> 00:11:51,333 Blake to be a mean girl. 243 00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:54,300 She was quoted as saying it was the worst interview she's ever 244 00:11:54,467 --> 00:11:55,667 given in her career. 245 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,300 [Kjersti] I'm an entertainment reporter. 246 00:12:03,467 --> 00:12:06,700 I'm originally from Norway, but I've been living in the US 247 00:12:06,867 --> 00:12:08,667 for 20 years. 248 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,100 I watched the movie, and it reminded me of that 249 00:12:13,266 --> 00:12:14,667 interview I'd had with her. 250 00:12:14,834 --> 00:12:17,367 First of all, congrats on your little bump. 251 00:12:17,367 --> 00:12:20,767 At the time of her interview, Blake Lively had confirmed 252 00:12:20,767 --> 00:12:23,967 her pregnancy, so it wasn't speculation. 253 00:12:24,133 --> 00:12:26,100 It was just, "Congratulations." 254 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,667 Congrats on your little bump. 255 00:12:28,667 --> 00:12:30,667 I still don't understand what 256 00:12:30,834 --> 00:12:32,600 triggered Blake Lively. 257 00:12:32,767 --> 00:12:37,000 That journalist was just trying to break the ice. 258 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,467 What about my bump? 259 00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:42,467 Kjersti ends up saying it was the worst interview of all time. 260 00:12:42,467 --> 00:12:44,667 There's footage and clips of this interview 261 00:12:44,834 --> 00:12:46,200 that are so tense. 262 00:12:46,367 --> 00:12:49,500 Did you guys love wearing those kind of clothes that you -- 263 00:12:49,667 --> 00:12:51,066 -Yeah. -Yeah. 264 00:12:51,066 --> 00:12:52,667 -And, you know, working in digital -- -Everyone wants to talk about 265 00:12:52,834 --> 00:12:54,567 the clothes, but I wonder if they would ask the men 266 00:12:54,734 --> 00:12:56,200 about the clothes. 267 00:12:56,367 --> 00:12:57,567 I would. 268 00:12:57,567 --> 00:12:59,266 [Kjersti] I thought, OK, this is not going well. 269 00:12:59,433 --> 00:13:00,967 And from there on, 270 00:13:01,133 --> 00:13:03,266 they just basically ignored me. 271 00:13:03,433 --> 00:13:05,266 I love Jesse's suits and hat. 272 00:13:05,433 --> 00:13:08,900 -That's what I'm saying. His wardrobe was beautiful. -Oh, I know. 273 00:13:09,066 --> 00:13:11,166 This Kjersti Flaa interview 274 00:13:11,333 --> 00:13:14,266 had never been shared publicly before. 275 00:13:14,266 --> 00:13:17,166 That's why it went super viral. 276 00:13:17,333 --> 00:13:19,100 [gasps] Mic drop. 277 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:21,667 Mic drop -- does not even look at the interviewer. 278 00:13:21,667 --> 00:13:23,000 It is so pointed. 279 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:27,700 It got a ton of attention, and it definitely did not help 280 00:13:27,867 --> 00:13:29,367 Blake Lively. 281 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,967 On December 20th, Blake Lively files a complaint. 282 00:13:41,133 --> 00:13:42,867 It broke headlines. 283 00:13:43,033 --> 00:13:44,967 [reporter] Blake Lively shocking Hollywood 284 00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:47,700 with a new explosive legal complaint... 285 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:51,100 about what she says was happening behind the scenes 286 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:53,100 of her film "It Ends with Us." 287 00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:55,567 Actress Blake Lively accusing "It Ends with Us" 288 00:13:55,734 --> 00:13:58,000 co-star and director Justin Baldoni 289 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,567 of sexual harassment. 290 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,400 According to Blake Lively, back in May of 2023, 291 00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:12,166 things happened with Justin Baldoni that made 292 00:14:12,333 --> 00:14:17,800 her feel uncomfortable, and she says that she reported it. 293 00:14:17,967 --> 00:14:22,200 [Natasha] There was a meeting where they agreed upon a document of 294 00:14:22,367 --> 00:14:24,800 protocol that should be enforced on set, 295 00:14:24,967 --> 00:14:28,600 that Blake says is directly in reference to concerns that 296 00:14:28,767 --> 00:14:30,166 she had raised. 297 00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:32,367 It is very specific. 298 00:14:32,367 --> 00:14:35,667 Blake Lively says she included items 299 00:14:35,667 --> 00:14:39,767 that she and Wayfarer Studios and Justin Baldoni 300 00:14:39,767 --> 00:14:43,300 all agreed in a production meeting. 301 00:14:45,767 --> 00:14:51,266 They're really specific items that allude to verbal 302 00:14:51,266 --> 00:14:55,467 or physical sexual conduct that occurred. 303 00:14:55,467 --> 00:14:59,700 She says that Justin would repeatedly walk into 304 00:14:59,867 --> 00:15:04,000 her trailer unannounced while she was by the breastfeeding, 305 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,667 pumping, or in a state of undress. 306 00:15:06,667 --> 00:15:11,600 She alleged the intimate scenes would be improvised 307 00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:13,266 and done over and over again, 308 00:15:13,266 --> 00:15:16,700 more than was typically required on such a set. 309 00:15:16,867 --> 00:15:20,567 These items seem to fit under sexual harassment. 310 00:15:20,567 --> 00:15:25,567 And when they go back to recording, Blake Lively says, 311 00:15:25,567 --> 00:15:27,767 "I don't want these things to happen again." 312 00:15:27,767 --> 00:15:30,700 Basically, "This was making me uncomfortable." 313 00:15:30,867 --> 00:15:33,800 [Natasha] It repeatedly says the phrase, "No more." 314 00:15:33,967 --> 00:15:36,300 "No more" doing this kind of behavior. 315 00:15:36,467 --> 00:15:39,567 There was actually a signed agreement between 316 00:15:39,734 --> 00:15:42,066 the parties not to have it continued. 317 00:15:42,233 --> 00:15:44,200 How could you not agree? 318 00:15:44,367 --> 00:15:47,600 I mean, it's so obvious that you cannot do that 319 00:15:47,767 --> 00:15:48,967 in a workplace. 320 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:59,967 Something that was upsetting to me is that this is 321 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,967 one of the few very popular movies 322 00:16:03,133 --> 00:16:05,266 that deals with domestic violence. 323 00:16:05,266 --> 00:16:07,567 What are you doing? Stop. 324 00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:09,400 Stop. What are you doing? 325 00:16:09,567 --> 00:16:11,967 -Sh, sh, sh. -What are you doing? Stop -- stop. 326 00:16:12,133 --> 00:16:14,367 [Natasha] It's the core plot point. 327 00:16:14,533 --> 00:16:16,867 To have these allegations saying one of the major 328 00:16:17,033 --> 00:16:20,066 creative forces behind this was actually engaging in 329 00:16:20,233 --> 00:16:23,100 misogynistic content himself, it's pretty upsetting. 330 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:27,066 [Matthew] What made part of these allegations so shocking was 331 00:16:27,233 --> 00:16:30,500 that Justin Baldoni has a podcast where he talks about 332 00:16:30,667 --> 00:16:33,367 how men can be allies to women and how men can be better in 333 00:16:33,367 --> 00:16:34,600 their relationships to women. 334 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,266 If you know the film and you've been following along and read 335 00:16:37,433 --> 00:16:42,000 the book, how could he do this? I mean, how could he do this? 336 00:16:43,867 --> 00:16:46,867 Several of the key players involved in the making of 337 00:16:47,033 --> 00:16:49,166 "It Ends with Us," Colleen Hoover 338 00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:52,800 to one of the lead actors in it, Brandon Sklenar, 339 00:16:52,967 --> 00:16:56,166 have all come out publicly supporting 340 00:16:56,333 --> 00:16:57,800 Blake Lively. 341 00:16:57,967 --> 00:17:01,667 Brandon Sklenar shared a post directing people 342 00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:06,567 to read her complaint, including a little heart emoji 343 00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:08,266 and tagging Blake Lively. 344 00:17:08,266 --> 00:17:12,100 I saw social media sentiment shift more in favor 345 00:17:12,100 --> 00:17:14,266 of Blake than it had been, certainly. 346 00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:16,867 You know, if you read the complaint, I think she had 347 00:17:16,867 --> 00:17:19,867 very valid reasons why she wouldn't want to show up 348 00:17:20,033 --> 00:17:22,000 to work in an environment like that. 349 00:17:22,166 --> 00:17:24,166 She's not doing this because it's fun 350 00:17:24,333 --> 00:17:25,266 or it's gonna get her anything. 351 00:17:25,266 --> 00:17:27,000 She's doing this probably because she has 352 00:17:27,166 --> 00:17:29,066 daughters at home and feels the need to stand up 353 00:17:29,233 --> 00:17:31,166 for what she went through. 354 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,367 [Emily] Literally, a day after, 355 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,567 you see this complaint come out. 356 00:17:42,734 --> 00:17:46,266 The New York Times rolls out the big headline. 357 00:17:54,667 --> 00:17:59,367 My initial response to the explosive New York Times 358 00:17:59,367 --> 00:18:02,000 article was shock. 359 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,867 [Matthew] This New York Times article comes out that alleges this 360 00:18:06,867 --> 00:18:12,066 whole campaign was orchestrated against her by Justin and his 361 00:18:12,233 --> 00:18:16,867 PR team to make her seem like a bad person. 362 00:18:17,033 --> 00:18:20,700 The New York Times reported Blake Lively, in her complaint, 363 00:18:20,867 --> 00:18:22,767 says that Justin Baldoni hired 364 00:18:22,767 --> 00:18:25,266 not only his PR person Jennifer Abel, 365 00:18:25,433 --> 00:18:28,100 but a crisis management person, Melissa Nathan, 366 00:18:28,266 --> 00:18:31,300 to orchestrate a smear campaign against her. 367 00:18:31,467 --> 00:18:32,567 [Matthew] There were comments saying, 368 00:18:32,567 --> 00:18:34,367 "We're gonna bury Blake Lively." 369 00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:44,867 [keyboard tapping] 370 00:18:45,033 --> 00:18:48,367 [Natasha] The second part of her suit alleges that at least part of 371 00:18:48,367 --> 00:18:51,700 the negativity that we saw that summer towards her 372 00:18:51,867 --> 00:18:55,266 was orchestrated by people working with Justin Baldoni 373 00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:59,367 to be able to cover their tracks should she come public 374 00:18:59,533 --> 00:19:02,667 about experiencing alleged sexual misconduct. 375 00:19:03,900 --> 00:19:08,066 [Emily] If this happened, really, they did a genius job 376 00:19:08,233 --> 00:19:14,367 on the front end of building up this database of unsavory 377 00:19:14,533 --> 00:19:16,400 narrative towards Blake. 378 00:19:16,567 --> 00:19:20,000 [Matthew] The PR dark arts were getting exposed. 379 00:19:20,166 --> 00:19:22,266 Something that's always been behind the curtains, 380 00:19:22,266 --> 00:19:25,100 something that you don't really see, but you understand 381 00:19:25,266 --> 00:19:26,266 is happening. 382 00:19:35,767 --> 00:19:39,266 [Perez] Just the sheer volume of allegations that she was making 383 00:19:39,266 --> 00:19:43,166 against him, I thought, "Wow, wow, I -- I feel 384 00:19:43,333 --> 00:19:45,066 so bad for her." 385 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,467 You can be one of the most wealthy and successful 386 00:19:51,634 --> 00:19:55,266 people in your industry and still face alleged 387 00:19:55,266 --> 00:19:58,667 retaliation for speaking up, for making allegations 388 00:19:58,834 --> 00:20:02,700 of sexual misconduct, I think it's extremely alarming. 389 00:20:02,867 --> 00:20:05,900 [Emily] So, like, maybe she can be a mean girl sometimes, 390 00:20:06,066 --> 00:20:09,266 but when it comes to this film, 391 00:20:09,433 --> 00:20:11,900 what is going on with this Justin guy? 392 00:20:12,066 --> 00:20:15,467 So, all of a sudden, she had some public favor. 393 00:20:16,767 --> 00:20:19,667 Everybody was sympathetic towards Blake Lively, 394 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:22,300 and then things shifted. 395 00:20:32,166 --> 00:20:35,300 That New York Times story was so damning that it made it seem 396 00:20:35,467 --> 00:20:36,767 like there was no way that Justin Baldoni 397 00:20:36,767 --> 00:20:38,367 could come back from this. 398 00:20:38,533 --> 00:20:41,166 [Kjersti] Then, all of a sudden, Justin Baldoni then files 399 00:20:41,333 --> 00:20:43,467 a libel lawsuit against The New York Times 400 00:20:43,634 --> 00:20:46,200 for $250 million. 401 00:20:48,667 --> 00:20:53,700 [Perez] The thing that really shook me was his lawsuit included 402 00:20:54,867 --> 00:20:56,300 texts and emails 403 00:20:56,467 --> 00:20:59,000 between Justin Baldoni and Melissa Nathan 404 00:20:59,166 --> 00:21:03,100 to show they were not planting stories in the media 405 00:21:03,266 --> 00:21:04,767 about Blake Lively. 406 00:21:04,934 --> 00:21:07,600 According to Baldoni, the New York Times edited 407 00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:10,367 conversations and didn't give us full context, 408 00:21:10,533 --> 00:21:13,100 and they didn't give him and his lawyers 409 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:15,100 enough time to respond. 410 00:21:17,467 --> 00:21:19,900 But it's not the New York Times' job 411 00:21:20,066 --> 00:21:24,200 to give all sides of the story. 412 00:21:24,367 --> 00:21:26,166 You might not like that, 413 00:21:26,166 --> 00:21:29,066 but that doesn't open them up to liability. 414 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:33,900 Under US defamation law, Justin Baldoni has the burden 415 00:21:34,066 --> 00:21:36,667 to prove that the New York Times 416 00:21:36,667 --> 00:21:38,700 lied or knowingly lied, 417 00:21:38,867 --> 00:21:42,700 and that what they were saying was false. 418 00:21:42,867 --> 00:21:46,166 A quick defense is, "Let's go after the journalist 419 00:21:46,333 --> 00:21:49,900 or the outlet that did me dirty." 420 00:21:50,066 --> 00:21:53,100 That's a quick way to get it out in the public. 421 00:21:53,266 --> 00:21:58,200 [Natasha] I think if you choose to go with Blake Lively's claims, 422 00:21:58,367 --> 00:22:01,500 which I will say in general, I think are credible, this is 423 00:22:01,667 --> 00:22:05,166 a story of a man who abused his power on set 424 00:22:05,333 --> 00:22:09,300 and alleges that there was a smear campaign 425 00:22:09,467 --> 00:22:12,300 orchestrated by people working with Justin Baldoni. 426 00:22:12,467 --> 00:22:15,200 [Perez] I believe victims should be believed. 427 00:22:15,367 --> 00:22:18,367 However, is Blake Lively a victim? 428 00:22:18,533 --> 00:22:20,500 That is the question. 429 00:22:26,467 --> 00:22:30,100 [Emily] And then, all of a sudden, after suing the New York Times, 430 00:22:30,266 --> 00:22:35,100 Justin countersues Blake for $400 million. 431 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,567 I mean, this is a big jaw-drop moment. 432 00:22:39,567 --> 00:22:44,166 $250 million, $400 million, these are shock numbers. 433 00:22:44,333 --> 00:22:46,500 These are there to gain attention. 434 00:22:46,667 --> 00:22:50,266 He's saying that she made a false sexual harassment claim. 435 00:23:01,867 --> 00:23:03,867 Unlike any case that I've handled 436 00:23:04,033 --> 00:23:05,333 in my entire career, 437 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:10,000 it's the one case we're gonna put every single text message, 438 00:23:10,166 --> 00:23:14,667 every single document, everything on a website. 439 00:23:14,667 --> 00:23:18,767 Hundreds of pages of legal allegations, 440 00:23:18,934 --> 00:23:21,100 text messages, photos. 441 00:23:21,266 --> 00:23:23,266 You have the timeline of events. 442 00:23:23,266 --> 00:23:25,100 So much information. 443 00:23:25,100 --> 00:23:28,667 Let me tell you, the internet sleuths, 444 00:23:28,834 --> 00:23:34,767 everybody was going after what was in that 168-page document. 445 00:23:34,767 --> 00:23:37,667 Justin Baldoni's legal team have just launched a website. 446 00:23:37,834 --> 00:23:39,867 Justin promised us all the receipts, 447 00:23:39,867 --> 00:23:41,166 and he came through. 448 00:23:41,333 --> 00:23:44,000 He countered her, point by point, saying, 449 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,867 "She claimed this, but in reality, 450 00:23:47,033 --> 00:23:49,100 here's what truly happened." 451 00:23:51,567 --> 00:23:54,667 And one of the examples he gives is that Blake Lively 452 00:23:54,667 --> 00:23:57,100 herself invited him into the trailer 453 00:23:57,100 --> 00:23:59,066 while she was breastfeeding. 454 00:23:59,233 --> 00:24:01,100 And then later on, 455 00:24:01,266 --> 00:24:04,900 she uses that as a basis for something he's done wrong. 456 00:24:05,066 --> 00:24:09,367 Blake Lively alleges that a senior member of the studio 457 00:24:09,533 --> 00:24:13,400 showed her a nude video of his wife giving birth. 458 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:18,000 They allege, rather, that, 459 00:24:19,467 --> 00:24:21,433 "No, she asked to see the footage." 460 00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:26,367 Blake Lively is accusing Justin Baldoni 461 00:24:26,367 --> 00:24:29,400 of asking her trainer for her weight. 462 00:24:29,567 --> 00:24:31,500 So she said that that was fat shaming. 463 00:24:31,667 --> 00:24:35,000 He says he has a back problem, and there was a scene where 464 00:24:35,166 --> 00:24:36,467 he needed to lift her. 465 00:24:36,467 --> 00:24:40,166 [Dina] His argument isn't really that those items didn't happen. 466 00:24:40,333 --> 00:24:43,166 He just is saying that there's a different perspective, 467 00:24:43,333 --> 00:24:44,467 that they were really more consensual. 468 00:24:44,467 --> 00:24:47,100 Both sides absolutely 469 00:24:47,266 --> 00:24:50,200 want to get their perspective out. 470 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,667 [Perez] Amongst many allegations that Blake Lively made, 471 00:24:55,834 --> 00:25:00,467 she said that Justin Baldoni did not stick to what they had 472 00:25:00,634 --> 00:25:02,900 agreed upon when filming intimate moments, 473 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:07,400 specifically in that infamous dance sequence. 474 00:25:07,567 --> 00:25:09,600 So what did Justin Baldoni do? 475 00:25:09,767 --> 00:25:11,066 His lawyer released 476 00:25:11,233 --> 00:25:13,767 10-plus minutes of unedited footage 477 00:25:13,767 --> 00:25:17,567 that let the public see and decide for themselves 478 00:25:17,567 --> 00:25:19,300 what they were looking at. 479 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,166 [crew] Ryan, go to the bar. Ryan, go to the bar. 480 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,567 Justin Baldoni released the footage to try 481 00:25:38,567 --> 00:25:41,867 and make the case that he did nothing wrong. 482 00:25:42,033 --> 00:25:45,100 You know, for a lot of people it did seemingly vindicate him. 483 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:04,200 One of the "slam dunks" that Baldoni's team suggests is, 484 00:26:04,367 --> 00:26:06,567 "Well, we had an intimacy coordinator, 485 00:26:06,734 --> 00:26:08,367 and you didn't want to meet with her." 486 00:26:08,367 --> 00:26:10,867 And text messages show, at least, 487 00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:13,667 that Blake did not meet with the intimacy coordinator 488 00:26:13,667 --> 00:26:15,000 before shooting started. 489 00:26:16,567 --> 00:26:18,600 But in her original document, 490 00:26:18,767 --> 00:26:20,667 she asks for an intimacy coordinator 491 00:26:20,667 --> 00:26:22,200 to be on set at all times 492 00:26:22,367 --> 00:26:24,667 whenever she's filming with Baldoni. 493 00:26:28,967 --> 00:26:32,600 [Mia] I'm an intimacy coordinator for TV, film, and theater. 494 00:26:33,767 --> 00:26:37,266 The role of intimacy coordinator, um, is still 495 00:26:37,266 --> 00:26:42,767 relatively new in TV and film, and there are certain standards 496 00:26:42,767 --> 00:26:48,266 and protocols that we adhere to shooting, uh, simulated sex 497 00:26:48,433 --> 00:26:51,667 and nude scenes, doing our best to help the director achieve 498 00:26:51,834 --> 00:26:54,700 their vision while staying within the actor's comfort. 499 00:26:56,066 --> 00:26:59,000 In my experience, when an actor says, 500 00:26:59,166 --> 00:27:02,200 "I don't need to meet the intimacy coordinator until we're shooting," 501 00:27:02,367 --> 00:27:06,166 it does typically indicate that they trust their scene partner, 502 00:27:06,333 --> 00:27:08,100 which is a beautiful thing. 503 00:27:08,266 --> 00:27:13,266 And those texts made me think that at one point, she did feel 504 00:27:13,433 --> 00:27:14,967 a lot of trust with him. 505 00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:17,266 Blake's team then comes in and says, 506 00:27:17,266 --> 00:27:19,400 "Oh no, this is exactly what we're talking about. 507 00:27:19,567 --> 00:27:20,867 She's uncomfortable." 508 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,166 [crew person] Ryan, go to the bar. Ryan, go to the bar. 509 00:27:33,767 --> 00:27:37,367 In the script for that scene, the description is, 510 00:27:37,367 --> 00:27:41,266 "They slow dance, lost in their own world." 511 00:27:43,166 --> 00:27:46,800 No mention of a kiss, no mention of any kind of 512 00:27:46,967 --> 00:27:50,767 sexual touch or intimate touch beyond an embrace, maybe? 513 00:27:50,934 --> 00:27:53,367 Blake Lively alleged that he would do 514 00:27:53,367 --> 00:27:58,266 unapproved movements and -- and contact and kissing 515 00:27:58,433 --> 00:28:00,066 and smelling her neck. 516 00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:15,000 [Mia] Blake says that there wasn't an intimacy coordinator present 517 00:28:15,166 --> 00:28:17,066 for certain intimate scenes. 518 00:28:17,233 --> 00:28:22,567 From what I've heard, it seems like there were scenes that 519 00:28:22,734 --> 00:28:26,900 did not have intimacy written, but then intimacy was added. 520 00:28:27,066 --> 00:28:31,667 That video of the slow dance is a perfect example of that. 521 00:28:31,834 --> 00:28:35,300 [Dina] The dance scene, both sides think it's great for them. 522 00:28:35,467 --> 00:28:39,567 So when this goes to trial, that video will for sure be 523 00:28:39,567 --> 00:28:42,600 shown in front of a jury, and you'll hear two completely 524 00:28:42,767 --> 00:28:45,567 different perspectives on what that video is. 525 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,300 But Justin Baldoni said, "Had Lively chosen to merely 526 00:28:51,467 --> 00:28:54,900 "write out the self-inflicted press catastrophe she faced in 527 00:28:55,066 --> 00:28:57,667 "August of 2024, the public would likely have 528 00:28:57,834 --> 00:29:00,166 "moved on and never known the truth about her. 529 00:29:00,333 --> 00:29:02,800 "They would have never known that she deliberately 530 00:29:02,967 --> 00:29:05,867 "and systematically robbed plaintiffs Justin Baldoni 531 00:29:05,867 --> 00:29:08,367 and Wayfarer Studios of their movie." 532 00:29:15,967 --> 00:29:19,200 Justin Baldoni says in his counterclaim that, 533 00:29:19,367 --> 00:29:22,166 "Almost immediately, Lively began inserting herself 534 00:29:22,333 --> 00:29:25,600 "into the production process in intrusive ways well beyond 535 00:29:25,767 --> 00:29:28,467 the scope of her contractual entitlement." 536 00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:31,500 Basically, he's saying, her saying that she needed 537 00:29:31,667 --> 00:29:34,367 creative control over the project and threatening to 538 00:29:34,533 --> 00:29:36,667 walk out if she didn't get that creative control 539 00:29:36,667 --> 00:29:38,867 amounted to extortion. 540 00:29:39,033 --> 00:29:41,467 There's this one now very, um, 541 00:29:41,467 --> 00:29:45,867 viral video of her appearance at a Forbes summit, 542 00:29:46,033 --> 00:29:49,467 where she was talking about demanding and wanting 543 00:29:49,634 --> 00:29:53,000 and needing control of every aspect of movie making. 544 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,900 [Blake] I wanted to be a part of the storytelling, that I wanted 545 00:29:56,066 --> 00:29:58,500 to be a part of the narrative, whether that be in the writing, 546 00:29:58,667 --> 00:30:01,000 in the costume design, in creating the character. 547 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,166 I actually need to have authorship in order to 548 00:30:03,166 --> 00:30:04,200 feel fulfilled. 549 00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:07,667 There is a core scene in the movie, it's when 550 00:30:07,834 --> 00:30:10,500 Ryle and Lily meet for the first time. 551 00:30:10,667 --> 00:30:12,100 I once read that 552 00:30:12,266 --> 00:30:14,000 maraschino cherries stay in your stomach 553 00:30:14,166 --> 00:30:15,900 for like seven years. 554 00:30:16,066 --> 00:30:19,066 [Natasha] It takes place on a rooftop, it's a very pivotal scene, 555 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,200 and Blake has said that Ryan Reynolds 556 00:30:22,367 --> 00:30:24,900 wrote at least some of this scene. 557 00:30:25,066 --> 00:30:26,967 The iconic rooftop scene in this movie, my husband actually 558 00:30:27,133 --> 00:30:29,166 wrote it, nobody knows that, but you now. 559 00:30:29,166 --> 00:30:31,367 He's all over this film. 560 00:30:31,367 --> 00:30:35,467 In Justin's lawsuit, he alleges that there was 561 00:30:35,634 --> 00:30:38,867 a meeting in Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' 562 00:30:39,033 --> 00:30:41,200 New York City penthouse, 563 00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:47,867 where he felt pressured by both Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift 564 00:30:48,033 --> 00:30:51,767 to acquiesce to some of the changes that Blake Lively 565 00:30:51,767 --> 00:30:54,200 had wanted to make to the script. 566 00:30:54,367 --> 00:30:57,066 [Matthew] He felt that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were 567 00:30:57,233 --> 00:31:00,200 coming in to try to create their own version of the film. 568 00:31:00,367 --> 00:31:01,867 -[paparazzi chatting] -[camera shutters snapping] 569 00:31:01,867 --> 00:31:05,500 [Kjersti] Most of us reacted very strongly to the text message 570 00:31:05,667 --> 00:31:09,100 that Blake had sent to Justin Baldoni, explaining that 571 00:31:09,266 --> 00:31:11,767 she's Khaleesi from "Game of Thrones," 572 00:31:11,767 --> 00:31:13,767 and she has dragons. 573 00:31:15,166 --> 00:31:19,000 It wasn't in the message who her dragons were. 574 00:31:19,166 --> 00:31:23,100 To me, it was like, obvious that it was Ryan Reynolds 575 00:31:23,266 --> 00:31:25,867 and Taylor Swift she was referring to. 576 00:31:25,867 --> 00:31:27,867 So, by saying that, it was like 577 00:31:27,867 --> 00:31:31,400 a nicely put little "threat," I would say. 578 00:31:31,567 --> 00:31:34,567 I find it interesting that Blake is both framed 579 00:31:34,734 --> 00:31:38,166 as this incredibly powerful person who, you know, 580 00:31:38,333 --> 00:31:40,500 can use Taylor Swift and everyone in her arsenal 581 00:31:40,667 --> 00:31:44,400 to do whatever she wants, but also she needs to rely on 582 00:31:44,567 --> 00:31:47,900 manipulating sexual harassment in order to get her way. 583 00:31:56,367 --> 00:31:59,166 Hey, Blake, it is, uh, 584 00:31:59,333 --> 00:32:00,900 two in the morning, um, 585 00:32:01,066 --> 00:32:02,767 hopefully this does not wake you up. 586 00:32:02,934 --> 00:32:07,967 So Justin Baldoni releases this voicemail that he leaves 2 a.m. 587 00:32:08,133 --> 00:32:10,500 to Blake Lively, apologizing. 588 00:32:10,667 --> 00:32:16,567 I'm really sorry, um, I -- I for sure fell short. 589 00:32:16,567 --> 00:32:18,867 It's, you know, he's showing some level of understanding, 590 00:32:19,033 --> 00:32:20,066 but it's also, you know, 591 00:32:20,233 --> 00:32:21,300 he's admitting some level of fault. 592 00:32:21,300 --> 00:32:23,266 So it's kind of, you know, one of those things that 593 00:32:23,266 --> 00:32:25,300 you can spin it either way. 594 00:32:25,467 --> 00:32:27,700 And damn right, you got great friends. 595 00:32:27,867 --> 00:32:31,300 We should all have friends like that, aside from the fact that 596 00:32:31,467 --> 00:32:33,000 they're two of the most creative people on the planet. 597 00:32:33,166 --> 00:32:36,300 What I mainly got from the message was that he was 598 00:32:36,467 --> 00:32:39,567 really desperately trying to please Blake. 599 00:32:39,567 --> 00:32:42,467 He was like, "Whatever you say, I'll do." 600 00:32:42,467 --> 00:32:45,100 I'm sorry. [laughing] 601 00:32:45,100 --> 00:32:47,967 You probably have kids all over you and a baby on your boob, 602 00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:50,166 and you're listening to me ramble at two in the morning. 603 00:32:50,166 --> 00:32:51,667 It's 2 a.m. in the morning. 604 00:32:51,834 --> 00:32:53,567 There were definitely people who thought 605 00:32:53,567 --> 00:32:54,767 it was a little creepy. 606 00:32:54,934 --> 00:32:56,500 There's others who say, 607 00:32:56,667 --> 00:32:59,266 "Hey, she texted him right before. 608 00:32:59,266 --> 00:33:01,367 This was a justified voice call." 609 00:33:01,367 --> 00:33:05,066 But, as a lawyer, I think, why release something that 610 00:33:05,233 --> 00:33:07,800 does -- it is a little questionable of whether or not 611 00:33:07,967 --> 00:33:09,500 that's appropriate in a workplace. 612 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:18,467 Baldoni is claiming that Blake Lively threatening that if 613 00:33:18,634 --> 00:33:21,166 she doesn't get the edit, she's not going to maybe 614 00:33:21,333 --> 00:33:22,567 appear at the premiere. 615 00:33:22,734 --> 00:33:24,100 He was basically giving over 616 00:33:24,266 --> 00:33:26,467 his creative control of the film. 617 00:33:26,634 --> 00:33:29,867 I believe that Sony, the film's distributor 618 00:33:30,033 --> 00:33:33,400 and major financer, they were scared, 619 00:33:33,567 --> 00:33:35,467 in my opinion, of Blake Lively. 620 00:33:35,634 --> 00:33:36,767 [paparazzi chatting] 621 00:33:36,934 --> 00:33:40,467 The bigger star tends to get backed because 622 00:33:40,634 --> 00:33:41,634 at the end of the day, 623 00:33:41,634 --> 00:33:44,000 the studio wants this to make a lot of money, 624 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:47,900 and the bigger star is gonna draw a bigger audience. 625 00:33:50,367 --> 00:33:52,600 If she took complete editorial control of the film, 626 00:33:52,767 --> 00:33:54,166 that's not a crime. 627 00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:58,400 Who's to say that Baldoni's version was inherently better? 628 00:33:59,767 --> 00:34:06,166 I wonder why we're not framing this as a woman potentially 629 00:34:06,166 --> 00:34:08,867 experiencing misconduct on set, as she's alleged, 630 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:12,700 taking part in a movie that we know she cares about, 631 00:34:12,867 --> 00:34:14,767 and then... 632 00:34:14,767 --> 00:34:16,667 making editorial decisions 633 00:34:16,667 --> 00:34:18,667 that are ultimately for the best of it. 634 00:34:18,667 --> 00:34:21,800 [Matthew] In the end, Blake Lively kind of emerged victorious, 635 00:34:21,967 --> 00:34:25,266 because what ended up getting shown was the rooftop scene 636 00:34:25,266 --> 00:34:27,900 that Ryan Reynolds wrote, and a lot of, you know, 637 00:34:28,066 --> 00:34:29,767 her cut we ended up seeing in theaters. 638 00:34:29,934 --> 00:34:32,800 [paparazzi yelling] Ryan! 639 00:34:32,967 --> 00:34:34,867 As "It Ends with Us" is coming out, 640 00:34:34,867 --> 00:34:36,667 "Deadpool and Wolverine" also comes out. 641 00:34:36,834 --> 00:34:39,700 We see a lot of cross-promotion and a lot of Blake and Ryan 642 00:34:39,867 --> 00:34:41,767 in the news together. 643 00:34:41,767 --> 00:34:43,567 Within "Deadpool and Wolverine," 644 00:34:43,734 --> 00:34:45,767 there's a character called "Nicepool." 645 00:34:45,767 --> 00:34:49,000 And where in God's name is the intimacy coordinator? 646 00:34:49,166 --> 00:34:51,367 Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lawyer, 647 00:34:51,533 --> 00:34:55,500 issues a letter to Disney saying that this character 648 00:34:55,667 --> 00:34:57,400 is clearly making fun of Justin. 649 00:34:57,567 --> 00:34:59,100 Who are you? 650 00:34:59,100 --> 00:35:03,166 Oh, I'm Deadpool, but in here, everybody calls me Nicepool. 651 00:35:03,333 --> 00:35:06,767 Nicepool has a man bun, like Justin Baldoni, 652 00:35:07,767 --> 00:35:09,066 and he makes 653 00:35:09,233 --> 00:35:12,367 references to Lady Deadpool, who was voiced by Blake. 654 00:35:12,367 --> 00:35:14,500 [Lady Deadpool] Oh, we're just getting started. 655 00:35:14,667 --> 00:35:18,266 He even talks about Ladypool's body 656 00:35:18,433 --> 00:35:19,867 after just giving birth. 657 00:35:19,867 --> 00:35:21,367 Oh my goodness, wait till you see Ladypool. 658 00:35:21,367 --> 00:35:22,533 She is gorgeous. 659 00:35:22,533 --> 00:35:24,767 She just had a baby too, and... [blows air through lips] 660 00:35:24,934 --> 00:35:27,266 -Can't even tell. -I don't think you're supposed to say that. 661 00:35:27,433 --> 00:35:28,867 That's OK. 662 00:35:28,867 --> 00:35:30,767 -I identify as a feminist. -Right. 663 00:35:30,934 --> 00:35:34,367 Here I am, doing my part, trying to be a feminist. 664 00:35:34,367 --> 00:35:38,367 There's so many parallels to what happened in the real world 665 00:35:38,533 --> 00:35:42,100 on the set of "It Ends with Us." 666 00:35:44,567 --> 00:35:47,467 As part of the lawyer's assessment of this, 667 00:35:47,634 --> 00:35:49,867 he points to the fact, "Well, Lively clearly couldn't 668 00:35:50,033 --> 00:35:52,600 "have undergone something as serious as sexual harassment if 669 00:35:52,767 --> 00:35:54,567 they're making fun of it in a movie." 670 00:35:54,567 --> 00:35:56,166 I don't think that's the case. 671 00:35:56,166 --> 00:35:59,500 I think people cope with many things with humor. 672 00:35:59,667 --> 00:36:00,867 All of a sudden... 673 00:36:01,967 --> 00:36:04,367 we're yo-yoed back to, 674 00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:09,367 "Wow, maybe this is like the most high-school fight that 675 00:36:09,367 --> 00:36:13,767 "we're ever privy to that people with millions of dollars 676 00:36:13,767 --> 00:36:15,300 can do with each other." 677 00:36:15,467 --> 00:36:17,066 Maybe they're both wrong. 678 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:37,000 A trial date has been set for Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni 679 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:38,300 to battle it out in court. 680 00:36:38,467 --> 00:36:42,867 We now have a date, but it is not until March of 2026. 681 00:36:43,767 --> 00:36:46,967 As of now, Blake Lively has promised to bring forward 682 00:36:47,133 --> 00:36:48,967 two more women from "It Ends with Us" 683 00:36:49,133 --> 00:36:52,867 who say that Justin Baldoni mistreated her 684 00:36:52,867 --> 00:36:54,066 and mistreated them on set. 685 00:36:54,233 --> 00:36:56,367 And if that comes to fruition, that would be a big deal 686 00:36:56,367 --> 00:36:57,634 for the case. 687 00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:02,367 [Dina] My professional opinion, Blake Lively has a stronger 688 00:37:02,533 --> 00:37:05,300 case because all of Justin Baldoni's arguments 689 00:37:05,467 --> 00:37:08,767 about fame and control don't really refute 690 00:37:08,767 --> 00:37:11,000 her claim of sexual harassment. 691 00:37:12,266 --> 00:37:14,600 Those allegations, the improvising of 692 00:37:14,767 --> 00:37:17,900 the kissing, the showing, describing his genitalia, 693 00:37:18,066 --> 00:37:20,500 talking about pornography, regardless of where 694 00:37:20,667 --> 00:37:24,266 your workplace is, those seem to be pretty strong basis for 695 00:37:24,433 --> 00:37:26,000 a claim of sexual harassment. 696 00:37:27,100 --> 00:37:31,066 [Perez] Even though it seems like a lot of social media is supporting 697 00:37:31,233 --> 00:37:34,100 Justin Baldoni, the longer this goes on, 698 00:37:34,266 --> 00:37:38,000 the more reputational damage they will both suffer. 699 00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:42,667 You've gotta consider that Justin Baldoni 700 00:37:42,834 --> 00:37:44,567 might be the problem. 701 00:37:44,734 --> 00:37:47,200 [Matthew] The social media algorithms portion of this is really 702 00:37:47,367 --> 00:37:50,767 interesting, because you get fed something very personal. 703 00:37:50,767 --> 00:37:55,100 What she is accusing him of is so harsh and so disrespectful. 704 00:37:55,100 --> 00:37:58,700 If you are getting fed a lot of things about Justin Baldoni 705 00:37:58,867 --> 00:38:02,000 being a good guy, you're gonna keep getting fed that. 706 00:38:02,166 --> 00:38:04,567 The same goes for people that are on Blake Lively's side. 707 00:38:04,734 --> 00:38:08,266 Who wants to trust a man who's made his entire brand 708 00:38:08,266 --> 00:38:11,500 all about being a champion for the voices of women? 709 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:14,700 [Matthew] These algorithms split people apart, and you're never really 710 00:38:14,867 --> 00:38:16,867 gonna get the other side of the narrative. 711 00:38:17,033 --> 00:38:18,967 At this point, it's kind of like a mutually 712 00:38:19,133 --> 00:38:20,200 assured destruction. 713 00:38:20,367 --> 00:38:22,467 [audience clapping] 714 00:38:22,634 --> 00:38:26,567 [SNL announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. 715 00:38:26,567 --> 00:38:29,667 Even at the "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special, 716 00:38:29,667 --> 00:38:32,000 Ryan Reynolds made a little passing remark to it, 717 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:33,400 a little joke about it. 718 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:34,900 [Tina] Ryan Reynolds, how's it going? 719 00:38:35,066 --> 00:38:37,200 Great -- why? What have you heard? 720 00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:38,800 [laughing] 721 00:38:38,967 --> 00:38:40,567 [Matthew] People immediately understood, 722 00:38:40,734 --> 00:38:42,166 they're still in the thick of this. 723 00:38:42,333 --> 00:38:45,900 This is still something that is going on. 724 00:38:49,467 --> 00:38:53,467 From a PR standpoint, both of them are gonna have 725 00:38:53,467 --> 00:38:56,300 a hard time getting the mud off of their reputation. 726 00:38:56,467 --> 00:38:59,367 They're both going to have to do some 727 00:39:00,367 --> 00:39:05,000 work with great professionals, hopefully, that are gonna 728 00:39:05,166 --> 00:39:07,367 lead them down the path, outside of the courtroom, 729 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:11,867 building back the trust of their fans. 730 00:39:11,867 --> 00:39:16,100 I believe for Blake, she needs to be vulnerable. 731 00:39:16,266 --> 00:39:19,800 She needs to have a moment where she's a mom of four. 732 00:39:19,967 --> 00:39:24,266 We want to be connected to her and empathize. 733 00:39:24,266 --> 00:39:27,667 Like, what woman hasn't been uncomfortable in a workplace? 734 00:39:27,667 --> 00:39:30,266 That's a common situation, and we want to support her. 735 00:39:30,433 --> 00:39:34,567 For Justin, you know, he has this platform of 736 00:39:34,734 --> 00:39:36,800 debunking toxic masculinity. 737 00:39:36,967 --> 00:39:41,400 He needs to also, "Hey, tail between my legs here, guys. 738 00:39:41,567 --> 00:39:43,667 I -- I could have done better." 739 00:39:43,667 --> 00:39:45,700 That's a relatable moment. 740 00:39:45,867 --> 00:39:48,867 [Matthew] The irony of this whole thing is that the movie that 741 00:39:49,033 --> 00:39:50,767 the movie was such a huge success. 742 00:39:50,934 --> 00:39:54,667 And to have all this scandal around it is kind of sad, 743 00:39:54,667 --> 00:39:57,667 because it really was a big win for Hollywood. 744 00:39:57,667 --> 00:40:00,066 I mean, if you're Colleen Hoover, you have to be 745 00:40:00,233 --> 00:40:01,700 kind of fed up with it. 746 00:40:01,867 --> 00:40:04,467 [Perez] Author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the novel 747 00:40:04,467 --> 00:40:08,567 "It Ends with Us," wiped all of her photos with Blake Lively 748 00:40:08,734 --> 00:40:13,600 and Justin Baldoni, but she still follows 749 00:40:13,767 --> 00:40:15,967 Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds 750 00:40:16,133 --> 00:40:19,100 and is not following Justin Baldoni. 751 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,700 So, interpret that as you will. 752 00:40:26,166 --> 00:40:30,166 [Aaron] The saddest thing about this is the message of this movie 753 00:40:30,166 --> 00:40:34,700 is taking second place to this conversation about 754 00:40:34,867 --> 00:40:37,467 what happened on set. 755 00:40:37,467 --> 00:40:41,600 The biggest loss here is this incredible film that so many 756 00:40:41,767 --> 00:40:44,700 people were really excited about and a topic that really 757 00:40:44,867 --> 00:40:46,033 needs to be addressed in Hollywood. 758 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,667 At this point, this is basically like the unraveling 759 00:40:49,667 --> 00:40:50,934 of a family feud. 760 00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:53,600 In terms of winners and losers, there really are no winners. 761 00:40:53,767 --> 00:40:55,033 It's all losers. 762 00:40:55,033 --> 00:40:58,867 [Dina] The bigger loser here is victims of domestic violence. 763 00:40:59,033 --> 00:41:01,100 This movie was about domestic violence. 764 00:41:03,367 --> 00:41:07,100 And nobody's talking about domestic violence. 765 00:41:07,100 --> 00:41:10,100 The other sad thing is that there is an allegation of 766 00:41:10,100 --> 00:41:12,667 sexual harassment on a domestic violence set, 767 00:41:12,667 --> 00:41:15,500 and the whole public seems to have decided 768 00:41:15,667 --> 00:41:17,000 whether or not that's true 769 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,000 long before the evidence has even been introduced at trial.