Justin Baldoni Releases Blake Lively Texts: Five Biggest Bombshells

Actor Justin Baldoni has uploaded all of his texts with actress Blake Lively as part of the bitter lawsuit and counter lawsuit between them.

Newsweek sought email comment from Baldoni and Lively’s legal teams on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Lively alleges that Baldoni sexually harassed her and launched a smear campaign while they were filming an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, It Ends With Us.
In response, Baldoni’s $400 million defamation and extortion case targets Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane. He is also suing The New York Times for $250 million for sharing Lively’s story.

Through the text messages, emails and legal filings, the case opens an enormous insight into Hollywood and the connection between film studios and public relations experts.

blake lively
Blake Lively attends the 2024 LACMA Art+Film Gala at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 02, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY IMAGES

What You Need To Know

On February 2, Baldoni’s legal team uploaded what they said were all of the texts between Lively and Baldoni, who was also the director of It Ends With Us. They also posted texts from others involved in the film and an amended legal complaint against Lively.

Here are the major revelations in the February 2 disclosures:

Ryan Reynolds Confronts Baldoni

According to her court documents, Lively told her husband Ryan Reynolds that Baldoni had asked about her weight before a film scene in which Baldoni had to physically lift her.

Baldoni claims that on April 25, 2023, he was summoned by Lively to her penthouse and greeted by Reynolds, “who swore at Baldoni and accused him of fat-shaming his wife, with the words: ‘How dare you f***ing ask about my wife’s weight? What’s wrong with you?”

The allegation is contained in Baldoni’s chronology of the events surrounding the filming of It Ends With Us.

In the chronology, Baldoni claims that he discussed the scene in which he lifts Lively, but only with a personal trainer who was working on the film.

“The tone from Reynolds and Lively was so aggressive that Baldoni felt he had no choice but to offer repeated (and completely unwarranted) apologies for what was a good-faith and reasonable question to his trainer (not Lively). Reynolds demanded that Baldoni remove the lift scene entirely,” Baldoni’s upload claims.7

Baldoni Tells Film Producer He Fears Meeting With Lively

Lively had allegedly decided that she wanted full control of what she wore in It Ends With Us.

As the director, Baldoni felt that he and the production team should have control, but he feared telling Lively.

In a text to It Ends With Us producer Jamey Heath, Baldoni reveals that he is about to have the wardrobe conversation with Lively.

“Seeing her in ten. Send me prayers – I’m just saying I’ve been ignoring my gut and there’s a few things we need to course correct on. I’m f***ing terrified of saying the wrong thing. Talk after,” Baldoni wrote.

Public Relations Executive Called Lively The C-Word

Baldoni alleges that Lively very heavily edited text messages between public relations executives while filing a legal complaint against Baldoni in California.

In one text, a public relations executive states that the social media campaign is ramping up against Lively, and notes: “It’s actually sad because it just shows you have people really want to hate on women.”

Baldoni filed a legal complaint which included this observation by the PR agent but omits the response text from the other PR, who agrees that a woman is often blamed, but, in this case, she puts the blame firmly on Lively. “I know it is sad,” this second PR writes. “But then, like, don’t be a c**t.” She f**ked herself by doing the unfollow thing and insisting no photos together.”

This is a reference to Lively allegedly unfollowing Baldoni on social media after filming had ended.

Baldoni Is ‘Furious And Sad’ That Lively Is Allegedly Making So Many Demands

In an email on December 27, 2023, Baldoni appears completely dejected by his ongoing dispute with Lively, who had allegedly left the set and came back when she had control over intimacy scenes, the dialogue and other areas of the film.

Baldoni emailed his team of producers with notes on his revised script, “expressing sadness and frustration over Lively’s takeover of a Film they had spent years developing, writing, and funding,” according to his chronology of events.

His email states that he “[was] waiving the white flag and submitting” and would give Lively “98% of what she wants.”

“So yes…I am furious. And sad. But I will continue to get back up with a goal of getting us to the finish line,” he wrote.

Baldoni Allegedly Dreaded Intimacy Scene With Lively

In the same email, Baldoni also conveyed serious concern over handling the intimacy scenes, given the accusations inherent in Lively’s written demands. Lively had said that she would only return to set if these written demands were met.

Baldoni asked his producing partners for guidance, stating he was afraid that “something innocuous or not to [Lively’s] standards would very likely be used against [him] (as it already had).”

He adds that “creativity is impossible in an environment shrouded by fear.”

What People Are Saying

In early February, Baldoni released raw footage from the film set to allegedly disprove Lively’s claim that he had harassed her on set.

In a statement accompanying the statement, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman said: “The following videos captured on May 23, 2023, clearly refute Ms. Lively’s characterization of his behavior. The scene in question was designed to show the two characters falling in love and longing to be close to one another. Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism.”

Blake Lively’s lawyers in a statement: “Every moment of this [footage] was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present. Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of studio and Ms. Lively’s boss.”

“No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent. This matter is in active litigation in federal court.”

What Happens Next

Baldoni is dropping his California extortion and defamation lawsuit against Lively and has refiled it in New York. Both sides will be seeking extensive disclosure of documents, texts and emails in the coming months.