Movies

Justin Baldoni’s body double breaks cover to reveal what Blake Lively was REALLY like… an on-set ‘cover up’… and the subtle tell she was in ‘a bad place’

BBG News

When you might have thought that all stories had been told about the heated dispute surrounding “It Ends with Us”, a new perspective emerges as Justin Baldoni’s stand-in steps forward, offering fresh insights into the backstage drama.

In a conversation exclusively with the Daily Mail, stunt performer Thomas Canestraro, who stepped onto the set for the last fortnight of production in early 2024 as Vincent Baldoni’s stand-in, disclosed an apparent strained atmosphere on set, sharing that Blake Lively seemed to maintain a distance during filming.

Canestraro, at 38 years old, observed a palpable tension among everyone present. It seemed clear they were all feeling uneasy.

In a set that was typically professional, Canestraro found it challenging to identify the cause of the apparent friction, attributing it mainly to scheduling issues stemming from the 2023 writer’s strike affecting the production flow.

Nevertheless, he remained uncertain about whether there might have been an encounter or interaction between Lively, aged 37, and Baldoni, aged 41.

Unbeknownst to him, it transpired several months later that Lively would initiate a heated legal dispute through a bombshell lawsuit, involving her fellow actor in a protracted courtroom fight.

In December 2024, it was reported that an actress from Gossip Girl filed a grievance towards Baldoni, alleging instances of sexual misconduct, fostering a toxic work atmosphere, and orchestrating a defamation effort to tarnish her public image.

In response, he filed a lawsuit worth $400 million against the actress and her husband, Ryan Reynolds (aged 48), alleging that they attempted to damage his reputation.

Despite every party involved denying the accusations, the intense legal dispute between them is expected to reach its climax at a trial scheduled for March 2026.

Meanwhile, Canestraro remained oblivious to the significant events taking place off-camera, with only a few hints such as Lively’s change in mood and delays during shooting suggesting something was amiss.

Canestraro didn’t realize the full extent of the backstage drama, but subtle signs like Lively’s altered behavior and production delays hinted at trouble brewing on set.

Those who did have knowledge, he noted, ‘did a good job of doing damage control.’ 

Working on both And Just Like That and The Expendables 3, Canestraro initially had a commitment of up to five days, but instead ended up spending two full weeks on the set in Weehawken, New Jersey.

‘What I did experience was filming that was taking longer than expected,’ he said. 

This situation raised some curious queries such as, “What is going on here?”, “Why is it taking so long to capture this entire scene?”, and “Why aren’t we adhering to our scheduled timeline?

In their previous collaboration on the A Simple Favor marketing campaign in 2018, Canestraro’s experience was quite distinct from this time around with Lively. Back then, the ads were notably daring, featuring Canestraro posing nude, only partially covered by a sock over his private areas, with Lively towering above him.

While on set, he mentioned later, he found it incredibly effortless collaborating with the actress, who ensured that facilities like a restroom were available to him once the photography session had ended.

After being reconnected with the actress during filming for It Ends With Us, he found a sense of ease collaborating with her once more; however, he observed an unexpected shift in her demeanor, remarking that she seemed to be “more reserved” or “less open.

And, when Lively’s husband Reynolds appeared on set, Canestraro didn’t think twice about it.

On my first day, I found myself on the set and there was Ryan present. And I thought to myself, “Wow, this is amazing! It reminds me of when I worked on A Simple Favor. Here’s a supportive husband who came onto the set to boost his wife… I really admire that about them, it’s a lovely harmony in their relationship.” This was his comment.

It all clicked for Canestraro when the lawsuits made headlines. 

He commented, “‘Now I find myself wondering if Blake was already in such a difficult situation that Ryan had come to check on her well-being?’

A source close to the situation shared with The Daily Mail that the Deadpool actor intervened to save the movie from potential failure and stood up for his spouse.

In retrospect, when the entire situation unfolded later on, everything became clear as to why processes were delayed and why an unease was perceptible, according to Canestraro.

Despite Canestraro portraying a body double, it was noted that he didn’t maintain contact with Baldoni, whom he deemed very friendly. However, he could only speculate about the challenges Baldoni, both as an actor and director, must be facing at this time.

Canestraro stated, ‘He’s married, has a family, friends, but not everyone trusts him fully. This uncertain position can’t be ideal for him, and it likely takes a toll on him.’

Instead, he remains impartial, trusting that the disputing actors will eventually settle their disagreement, as it currently casts a shadow over the movie’s central theme of domestic abuse awareness.

He expressed that he prefers not to be part of any team. He wishes for them to reach a consensus… Such situations are unnecessary in our profession. However, it’s important to remember that no one’s feelings or experiences should be disregarded.

Read More

2025-06-01 21:48

Previous post State of Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s friendship after subpoena was withdrawn
Next post Starfleet Academy Cast Calls New Trek Series ‘Hormonal’ and Exciting