Justin Baldoni Shares Unsealed Texts About Blake Lively and a Controversial Sex Scene Decision

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Credit:

Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock ; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

Key Details

• Justin Baldoni accused Blake Lively of “setting me up for a trap” in a Dec. 30, 2023 text that has now been unsealed in court.
• The message indicated that Lively “refused” to use a body double for intimate scenes and dismissed Baldoni’s storyboards, prompting intervention from Sony executives and producer Todd Black.
• This text was sent just five days before a significant January 4, 2024 meeting where Baldoni, Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and studio representatives discussed 17 protections Lively requested before filming resumed.

Justin Baldoni recently expressed frustration over Blake Lively’s actions during the production of It Ends With Us, as revealed in a newly unsealed message from December 2023 that highlights growing tensions between the co-stars. In a text to his former agent, Danny Greenberg, Baldoni stated that he was having a “really, really bad week” dealing with Lively.

Baldoni described a dispute arising from Lively’s insistence on how intimate scenes would be filmed, including her refusal to use a body double. This disagreement led to intervention by studio executives. He articulated his concerns, claiming, “That’s just setting me up for a trap,” indicating Lively was pushing for a body double to be used for him while refusing one for herself.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Lia Toby/Getty; Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com

Furthermore, Baldoni noted that Lively rejected his storyboards and insisted on keeping both actors fully clothed during what he considered crucial romantic scenes, expressing disbelief at her approach: “If you know the book, it’s just ridiculous.” He described the entire situation as “a gigantic clusterf—,” admitting that he was conceding to Lively’s demands for the sake of peace.

On January 4, 2024, the team, including Baldoni, Lively, Reynolds, and studio representatives, gathered for an “all-hands” meeting to discuss 17 protections Lively requested. These safeguards, agreed upon in writing in mid-November 2023, were intended to address her concerns about safety and conduct on set.

It Ends With Us By Colleen Hoover book cover; Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively star in ‘It Ends With Us’ (2024).

Atria Books; Nicole Rivelli/Sony Pictures

A spokesperson for Lively contended that the unsealed messages were sent in the context of Lively’s efforts to address a hostile work environment allegedly created by Baldoni and producers. They described Baldoni’s text messages as retaliatory and highlighted discrepancies between his public statements and private sentiments regarding the safety measures.

This exchange came to light in a legal context, as WME pushed to keep certain details sealed, arguing they contained private communications irrelevant to the court’s analysis. The backdrop includes an alleged confrontation in April 2023, where Ryan Reynolds reportedly confronted Baldoni regarding Lively’s treatment on set, a moment witnessed by Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman, according to court documents.

In a deposition from July 2024, Greenberg characterized Lively’s behavior as reaching a level of “extortion.” The legal battle escalated when Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, seeking $160 million for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation, a claim Baldoni denies. He has countersued for $400 million, although that lawsuit was dismissed in June by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.

The next court hearing is slated for January 22, with the trial currently set for May 18.