Justin Baldoni's high-stakes legal clash with Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds intensified this week as the director and star of the upcoming film It Ends with Us unveiled a new website displaying text messages, emails, and other communications. The documents appear to contradict Lively's claims of sexual harassment and a follow-up smear campaign against her.
Lively, 37, had filed a civil rights complaint in December, followed by a civil lawsuit, alleging Baldoni "sexually harassed her on the set and then embarked on a smear campaign" after she criticized his behavior. Baldoni, 41, countered with a defamation and extortion suit reported at $400 million.
Among the messages posted on Baldoni's Lawsuit Info site are texts showing an apparently friendly rapport between him and Lively. One of Lively's alleged notes from May 2023 reads, "You were terrific. I'm proud of everything we did today, but really every day." Another conversation details Baldoni suggesting an intimacy coordinator for a rooftop dance scene, which Lively declined by responding, "I feel good. I can meet her when we start. Thank you though." In another text, Lively appears to invite Baldoni to her trailer to rehearse lines while she is "just pumping in my trailer" for her newborn.
Baldoni's communications with Reynolds also reveal a positive, collaborative tone. A message attributed to the Deadpool star states, "I'm excited for you to work together. I'm excited for Blake to crack open her creative piggy bank with someone as dynamic as you. This is gonna be INCREDIBLE ... I happen to adore you, Justin." According to Baldoni's team, these exchanges undermine Lively's harassment accusations. But observers note that the discord has already tarnished everyone involved. One showbiz source said, "No matter the outcome of their legal battles, Justin and Blake are both losers in the court of public opinion."
Tensions flared further when Reynolds, 48, made a tongue-in-cheek remark during Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary celebration. Seated in the crowd with Lively, he was teased by hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Reynolds quipped, "Great! Why, what have you heard?" while Lively feigned confusion. Justin Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, responded to that moment on the Hot Mics with Billy Bush podcast, saying, "I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. It surprised me."
Baldoni's legal complaint accuses Lively and Reynolds of trying to damage his career and reputation, including allegations that they aimed to force a large monetary settlement. Meanwhile, Lively's lawsuit alleges Baldoni orchestrated negative press to harm her standing in Hollywood. The It Ends with Us production, expected to release in 2024, was originally seen as a major collaboration for the cast, which includes Brandon Sklenar, who has publicly expressed hope that audiences can remember why the movie was made in the first place.
Sklenar told Gayle King on CBS Mornings: "I just want people to remember why we made the movie in the first place and what it stands for and just keeping the focus on that." He added that the project carried personal meaning: "That movie meant a lot to me, and it means a lot to her, this person in my life. It was one of the reasons that me doing that film gave her the strength to change her life."
Baldoni's counter lawsuit reportedly seeks £310 million (approximately $400 million) in damages, a sum he argues is necessary to address reputational harm and lost earnings. Lively's complaint included allegations of civil rights violations on set, claiming she felt endangered and disparaged after voicing concerns about an uncomfortable dance scene. The posted messages now being promoted by Baldoni's attorneys point to what they characterize as friendly banter, including a text from Lively that reads, "If you knew me (in person) longer, you'd have a sense of how flirty and yummy the ball busting will play. It's my love language. Spicy and playfully bold, never with teeth... ."
Baldoni's representatives maintain that the evidence on the website shows Lively was engaged with the film's development and did not object to any on-set procedures. In contrast, Lively's legal team accuses Baldoni of a "selective release" of content, suggesting additional messages demonstrate harassment behind the scenes. In a statement to RadarOnline.com, sources close to Lively insist these partial transcripts "do not tell the full story."
Complicating matters, Baldoni's website also includes communications with Reynolds, where the actor purportedly praised Baldoni's directorial approach. "I happen to adore you, Justin," wrote Reynolds in one text. However, Freedman criticized Reynolds for mocking the lawsuit on national television, telling Hot Mics with Billy Bush: "It surprised me."
Industry watchers say the mounting legal actions could have a chilling effect on the film's release. They speculate that both sides risk long-term reputational damage. Already, the behind-the-scenes drama may overshadow the themes of the film, which Sklenar described as deeply important to those living "on the front lines" of difficult relationships.
As the lawsuits multiply, no settlement is in sight, raising the likelihood that damaging information from both camps will continue to surface. Observers expect further escalation as both sets of attorneys argue over the meaning and relevance of personal exchanges. The corporate and creative backers behind It Ends with Us have largely stayed silent, though insiders have expressed concern that protracted litigation will overshadow the movie's eventual debut.
- Key Financial Stakes:
- $400 million defamation and extortion suit by Baldoni.
- Potential additional £310 million claim in reputational damages.
- Unknown box-office ramifications for It Ends with Us in 2024.
