Newly unsealed text messages have revealed Justin Baldoni's frustrations during the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, where he accused co-star and producer Blake Lively of trying to set him up for a trap. The messages, exchanged on December 30, 2023, between Baldoni and his former agent Danny Greenberg at the William Morris Endeavor agency, were made public as part of legal filings in Lively's ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni.
The texts, obtained by Us Weekly from documents filed by Lively's management company WME on January 5, 2025, paint a picture of escalating tensions on set. Baldoni, who directed and starred as Ryle Kincaid opposite Lively's Lily Bloom in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, began the exchange by venting about a particularly difficult week. "Hey man, had a really really bad week," he wrote, before detailing alleged interactions with Lively.
According to the messages, Baldoni claimed Lively had emailed him directly to invite him to a private meeting at her house, which he viewed with suspicion. He further alleged that she refused to use a body double for intimate scenes, a decision that reportedly required intervention from Sony Pictures, the film's distributor, and producer Todd Black. "She’s refused a body double which now Sony and Todd have to jump in to make sure that happens because that’s just setting me up for a trap," Baldoni texted. "Although she’s making me have one."
Baldoni's complaints extended to creative differences over the film's sex scenes. He accused Lively of rejecting his storyboards and pushing to keep clothing on during a pivotal love scene, calling it "ridiculous if you know the book." The director described the production as a "gigantic cluster f***," adding that dealing with an actress who was "rewriting the writer and Director" had been draining and time-consuming during the holiday break.
"I’ve gone through the whole script, I’m giving her 95 percent of what she wants for peace but this is just a brutal experience," Baldoni wrote in the exchange.
The texts also touched on Lively's impact on her own reputation. After Greenberg suggested mediation options, Baldoni responded that he was trying to stay positive and give her "as many wins as possible" to finish the film, but warned, "it’s gonna be tough at some point Warren [Zavala, a WME talent agent] needs to know that she is destroying her reputation." He anticipated further conflicts during the editing phase, stating, "Where we will need the most help is during the edit because I’m not going to get everything she wants and I foresee that being a big issue."
These revelations come amid a high-profile legal battle that has gripped Hollywood. Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign aimed at derailing her career. The complaint detailed uncomfortable on-set experiences and claims that Baldoni created a hostile work environment.
Baldoni has vehemently denied the allegations, filing a countersuit in January 2025 against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. Seeking $400 million in damages, the countersuit accused them of civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy. However, a judge dismissed Baldoni's countersuit in June 2025, allowing Lively's original case to proceed to trial in New York City in March 2026.
The unsealed texts were part of a motion by WME to keep certain communications sealed in the case, highlighting the agency's dual representation of both parties at the time, which has drawn scrutiny. WME dropped Baldoni as a client shortly after the lawsuit's filing, while continuing to represent Lively.
Five days after the December 30 texts, on January 4, 2024, Lively called a meeting attended by Baldoni, Black, Reynolds, Sony executive Ange Gianetti, producer Alex Saks, and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath. Legal filings from both sides offer conflicting accounts of what transpired. Lively's team has described it as an attempt to address her concerns about the working environment, while Baldoni's filings portray it as an ambush orchestrated to undermine him.
Related tensions surfaced in other aspects of the production. Baldoni's body double, Thomas Canestraro, told the Daily Mail in June 2025 that he felt "discomfort from everybody" while working on the film, though he did not elaborate on specifics. The movie, which grossed over $350 million worldwide upon its August 2024 release, became a box office success despite the behind-the-scenes drama, but the controversy has overshadowed its achievements.
The novel It Ends With Us, which explores themes of domestic abuse and generational trauma, drew praise for its emotional depth but also criticism for its handling of sensitive topics. Lively, who took on a producer role alongside Baldoni, has spoken publicly about the importance of authenticity in portraying the story, while Baldoni emphasized his commitment to the source material in interviews prior to the lawsuit.
As the trial approaches, both camps have maintained their positions. Lively's legal team has argued that the unsealed texts demonstrate Baldoni's pattern of victim-blaming and attempts to shift responsibility. In a statement to Us Weekly, a representative for Lively reiterated her commitment to holding accountable those who create unsafe sets, without directly addressing the new texts.
Baldoni, through his attorneys, has stood by the messages as evidence of his efforts to navigate a challenging collaboration. "These texts reflect Mr. Baldoni's genuine concerns at the time and his desire to complete the film professionally," his lawyer said in court filings. The director has also shared other alleged texts related to an infamous rooftop scene, further illustrating the production's fraught dynamics.
The saga has broader implications for Hollywood's #MeToo era, raising questions about power imbalances, intimacy coordinators, and the role of agencies in managing conflicts. With the March 2026 trial looming, more documents are expected to surface, potentially shedding additional light on one of the industry's most contentious disputes. For now, the unsealed texts offer a raw glimpse into the personal toll of a project that aimed to tell a story of resilience but became mired in its own conflicts.
Industry observers note that the case could set precedents for how intimate scenes are handled in future productions, especially given the push for body doubles and clear boundaries post-#MeToo. As It Ends With Us continues to stream on platforms like Hulu, audiences remain divided, with some praising the performances and others boycotting amid the legal headlines.