Blake Lively’s Past Improvised Scene Resurfaces Amid Accusations Against Co-Star—Is It a Double Standard?
The internet loves a good twist—and this latest one feels like it came straight out of a noir thriller.
Blake Lively, currently in headlines for accusing It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni of crossing boundaries during production, is facing scrutiny herself after a 2018 interview resurfaced—and it’s turning heads.
The interview, featuring Lively, co-star Anna Kendrick, and director Paul Feig, discusses a scene from A Simple Favor that wasn’t in the original script.
The scene?
Blake’s character grabbing Henry Golding’s crotch.
Feig confirms that it was Blake’s idea, saying,
“You really went for it, too.”
Blake responded in the clip:
“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—‘cause I feel like [my character] would.’”
While it might’ve flown under the radar back in 2018, it’s now gaining new attention in light of her accusations against Baldoni—with critics asking whether it presents a double standard in how we view consent and improvised moments on set.
Hypocrisy or Apples and Oranges?
Some are defending Lively, noting that context matters. The scene was shot under the direction of Feig, a comedy film with a known satirical tone, and co-star Henry Golding didn’t object—in fact, he’s returning for the upcoming sequel Another Simple Favor, dropping May 1st.
But others argue that improvised physical contact—especially involving intimate body parts—should never happen without explicit, prior consent, no matter who initiates it.
In the current cultural climate, where boundaries on set are under a microscope, this flashback moment has sparked a fresh wave of debate:
Is there a double standard when a woman initiates an uncomfortable on-screen moment?
Final Thoughts
Whether it was poor judgment, a misunderstood moment, or something more serious, one thing is clear: Hollywood is rethinking what’s acceptable—on set, and off.
As Another Simple Favor nears release, and It Ends with Us continues making headlines, Lively may find herself answering as many questions about past scenes as she is about her current project.
