Hollywood star Blake Lively is facing backlash online after a resurfaced clip put her past actions under scrutiny.
On March 29, 2025, a now-viral two-minute clip was shared on TikTok and X by content creator Elsrich. The video features an old Blu-Ray commentary from the 2018 film A Simple Favor, recorded after filming wrapped.
In the clip, Blake and director Paul Feig discuss a scene where Lively’s character unexpectedly grabs co-star Henry Golding’s privates, an improvised move that wasn’t in the script.
Feig praised the moment, calling it his “favorite addition” to the film, while The Gossip Girl star, explained her reasoning behind the choice, joking,
“That’s always awkward when you’re, like, hey, hi, nice to meet you. Can I grab your nuts really hard? It’s not ’cause I want to. It’s ’cause I feel like she [my character] would do”.
Lady GRABS-A-Lot meets lady Bable-Lots #ryanreynolds #justinbaldoni #itendswithus #blakelively #paulfeig #asimplefavor #fyp #explore #anothersimplefavormovie #greenscreenvideo #henrygolding #popculture #celebritynews pic.twitter.com/lb9IOQ5Ip3
— Elsrich (@ElsrichTV) March 29, 2025
The duo then went on to discuss how the scene and Blake’s character were inspired by Baby Jane Hudson, the iconic 1962 film character played by actress Bette Davis.
Blake’s Legal Team Defends Her Amid Viral Resurfaced Clip Controversy
As the video gained traction online, many questioned Blake’s actions in light of her ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. The actress has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set, but now, critics are calling her out for hypocrisy.
However, a spokesperson for The Age Of Adaline star was quick to shut down the backlash, issuing an official statement to defend her against what they described as an online smear tactic.
According to them, the scene with Golding was fully planned and agreed upon by all parties involved. Blake’s team clarified,
“Blake collaborated and reached an agreement with the director and her co-star before filming the scene. That is the entire point here and that is what Mr. Baldoni did not do. The audio commentary referenced clearly says that she made a creative suggestion, all agreed on it, and it was incorporated through the appropriate filmmaking process”.
Furthermore, Lively’s team accused Baldoni of deliberately resurfacing old clips to spread misinformation and damage her reputation amid their ongoing legal dispute. The statement concluded,
“This is just one example of the many in Blake’s lawsuit against Mr. Baldoni. The attempts to smear Blake have now come so full circle, that they are even starting to prove her own point”.
The heated legal feud between Blake and Justin began in December 2024 when the actress filed a lawsuit against him and several others involved in the 2024 film, accusing them of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
In January 2025, Baldoni fired back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others. The case remains ongoing with no final ruling yet. Their trial is scheduled for March 9, 2026.
Netizens Call Out Blake Lively For Alleged Hypocrisy
The internet is in an uproar over Lively’s resurfaced clip, with many accusing her of double standards. Netizens are slamming the actress for what they perceive as inappropriate behavior, with some even labeling her actions as sexual harassment.
Some such comments online read,
“Entitled hypocrite of highest order. IMO”.
“She is one disgusting human”.
“If grabbing the genitals without consent is not SH, I don’t know what is”.
“These people are sex-obsessed. Seriously. Who behaves like that?”
“I honestly think she has mental health issues- narcissism and boundary issues!”
As Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle heats up, the resurfaced clip has only poured fuel on the fire. And with the trial still a year away, this controversy is far from over.