Topline
Hundreds of emails and text messages between some of Hollywood’s biggest stars went public this week as part of Blake Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against her “It Ends WIth Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, dragging A-list names like Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Anna Wintour into the high-profile legal drama.
Anna Wintour, left, and actress Blake Lively attend the a Michael Kors fashion show on Feb. 15, 2017 in New York City.
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Key Facts
The communications released in a large document dump Tuesday are largely from 2024, the year “It Ends With Us” was released, and show how Lively spoke to her inner circle and others in Hollywood about what she claims was a toxic work environment on the film’s set and alleged sexual harassment by Baldoni, as well as how she sought advice about an edit of the film she oversaw.
Dozens of text messages between Lively and longtime friend Taylor Swift made clear the pair’s relationship went through a rough patch after Lively opened up to Swift about her rift with Baldoni, who seemed knowledgeable about the civil rights complaint Lively planned to file against him, and at one point Swift called Baldoni a “bitch.” (Read the text messages here).
Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who co-hosted the Met Gala with Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds in 2022, allegedly sent Lively a supportive text message calling “It Ends With Us” a “very brave and moving film” and suggesting she was aware about the drama unfolding with Baldoni: “Knowing how hard a situation it was for you made me especially proud of you,” she wrote.
Lively reached out separately to actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for their thoughts on her cut of the film, telling Affleck her time on set was “the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie” and telling Damon the movie “nearly killed me.
In her message to Damon and his wife, Lively said she “had to do everything” for the movie and asked for their support of an film edit she made separate from Baldoni, the director, adding Baldoni had “zero experience” and accusing him of being “in a cult” and believing “he’s our century’s prophet.”
Damon allegedly responded supportively and invited Lively to direct a film with Artists Equity, the production company he shares with Affleck.
Lively’s allegations against Baldoni include that he helped orchestrate a smear campaign against her, and an alleged unsealed text message from Baldoni shows him sharing a social media post that claims Hailey Bieber has a “history of bullying many women,” telling his publicist, “This is what we would need.”
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Tangent
Text messages from actress Jenny Slate were also unsealed this week, as was a transcript of a deposition she sat for last year. In a text message to her former agent, she called Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath “truly unfit” and said they made her “repulsed and deeply irritated,” adding, “I know Blake is experiencing that on a much more serious level.” In a follow up she said the men “tell really weird lies and Justin is astoundingly wrongheaded.” In other messages, she called Baldoni a “false ally,” “fraud,” and “biggest clown and the most intense narcissist.”
Surprising Fact
In a text message with his talent agent, Warren Zavala, Reynolds compared the brawl between his wife and Baldoni to the very public lawsuit between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard. When Reynolds’ talent agent suggested Reynolds and Lively stand back and “see if the noise subsides,” rather than taking direct action against Baldoni, Reynolds shot back “How’d that work out for Depp??” in reference to the star’s handling of Heard’s abuse allegations. “Not well. Cratered both of them ultimately,” Zavala answered.
Key Background
It has been over a year since Lively broke open rumors of a rift between Baldoni and others on the “It Ends With Us” set by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department alleging sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior on set. Days later, the New York Times published a bombshell piece detailing her claims and the next week Lively filed a federal lawsuit against Baldoni, his publicist, Wayfarer Studios and other defendants for “retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns.” Baldoni quickly filed a countersuit and sued the New York Times for its reporting, but both of his lawsuits were later dismissed. Lively’s suit is still ongoing. A judge on Thursday heard arguments on Baldoni’s motion to dismiss, but a decision has not been made. If it is allowed to proceed, a trial for the case is set for May 18. (Here is an in-depth timeline of the saga, and explanations of Lively’s initial claims and Baldoni’s claims.)
