Blake Lively has taken an important legal step in her ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit involving It Ends With Us producer Jamey Heath.
A federal judge in New York has ordered Heath to hand over all footage of his wife’s home birth, which Lively claims he once played for her on set without warning.
The ruling comes as part of Lively’s effort to obtain evidence she says is central to her case, in which she alleges that Heath showed her a clip of “a fully nude woman with her legs spread apart,” initially causing her to believe it was pornography.
Heath, meanwhile, denies this account, claiming he only shared a post-birth video of his wife and newborn.
Judge Orders Full Footage to Be Produced
In a six-page memorandum filed Monday in the Southern District of New York, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Heath must produce the full birth video within three days.
The court emphasized that even though the footage is deeply personal and sensitive, it cannot be withheld from the discovery process.
“Because Lively alleges she was shown birth footage, and Heath claims she was not, the full footage may contain evidence that supports Lively’s account and directly contradicts Heath’s,” the judge wrote.
The order covers all versions of the video and any related documents or communications.
Allegations Spark Legal Firestorm
According to filings, Lively alleges Heath approached her and her assistant on set, playing a video of a naked woman.
She immediately stopped him, believing it was pornographic content.
Heath told her the clip was his wife giving birth.
Wayfarer Studios, Heath, and Justin Baldoni have pushed back against Lively’s claims, calling them “outrageous and knowingly false.”
They argue that the footage shown was part of a post-birth clip used to demonstrate the director’s vision for a scene in the movie.
Sensitive Footage Will Remain Protected
Judge Liman acknowledged the personal nature of the footage, noting that it falls under strict confidentiality protections.
It will not be made public, but Lively is legally entitled to review the complete videos as part of the discovery process.
This ruling ensures Lively’s legal team can evaluate whether the material supports her claim that she was shown graphic birth imagery, rather than a harmless post-birth moment as Heath asserts.
The Lawsuit’s Broader Context
Lively filed her sexual harassment suit against Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer Studios, and others in December, alleging harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress during the filming of It Ends With Us, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
Heath and Baldoni have denied the allegations.
Baldoni also filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times, claiming the paper misrepresented the situation.
That counter-suit was dismissed earlier this year, leaving Lively’s harassment lawsuit as the main case still active.
Film Success Overshadowed by Legal Battle
It Ends With Us performed strongly at the box office, grossing $148 million domestically and $350 million worldwide.
But the film’s reputation has been overshadowed by the high-profile legal disputes between its stars and production team.
The movie, which stars Lively alongside Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar, and Kevin McKidd, tells the story of a toxic relationship between Lily Bloom (Lively) and Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni).
What Happens Next
With Judge Liman’s order, Heath must now provide all versions of the birth footage within three days.
Lively’s lawyers will review the material to determine if it corroborates her claims.
The case continues to attract widespread attention as it unfolds in federal court.
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