Jameela Jamil Breaks Silence on Controversial Private Texts About Blake Lively
British actress and activist Jameela Jamil has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding private text messages in which she described Hollywood star Blake Lively as a "villain" and a "suicide bomber." The messages, which were recently unsealed as part of Lively's ongoing legal dispute, have sparked headlines and prompted Jamil to defend her right to private conversations.
Legal Battle Brings Private Exchanges to Light
The texts emerged from the high-profile lawsuit filed by Blake Lively against her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating an online smear campaign, seeking approximately $500 million in damages. As part of the case's disposition, testimonies and communications from cast and crew have been unsealed, including a private August 2024 text exchange between Jamil and her publicist Jennifer Abel.
In the messages, Jamil responded to a TikTok criticising Lively's remarks during the film's press tour, suggesting they were inappropriate given the movie's domestic abuse theme. "She's a suicide bomber at this point," Jamil wrote, adding, "I've never seen such a bizarre villain act before." The texts were sent four months before Lively initiated legal proceedings in December 2024.
Jamil Claims Targeted Revelation
In a video statement posted on Thursday, Jamil expressed frustration that her private messages from eighteen months prior were suddenly made public. She asserted that her name was deliberately un-redacted to "cause as much trouble as possible" for her, despite the texts having no direct relevance to the legal case. "I think it's really weird that my private text messages from 18 months ago have suddenly been released now," she stated.
Jamil clarified that she was unaware of Lively's impending lawsuit at the time of the exchange and was merely venting about the film's press campaign. Having experienced domestic violence personally, she found the promotional approach for It Ends With Us offensive. "I had no idea about any of this stuff, I was just purely venting to my friend about how I felt," she explained.
Defending Private Gossip as 'Joyous Part of Womanhood'
The actress emphasised that she chose to keep her criticisms private to avoid contributing to public pile-ons, a stance informed by her own experiences as a woman in the media spotlight. "I know personally what it's like to be in the firing line as a woman in the media," Jamil remarked, noting that she instead took her concerns to a private group chat.
She defended the act of private gossiping among friends as a "victimless crime" and a "joyous part of womanhood." "We bitch, we gossip, and affirm, and support one another... no one is supposed to see those text messages," she said, arguing that the public release felt "incredibly sinister" and targeted.
Broader Context and Legal Proceedings
Jamil declined to comment directly on the lawsuit itself, expressing greater concern for global issues such as conflicts in Palestine, Sudan, and Congo. "We're all sick of hearing about this boring movie, it's got more press coverage than all the genocides combined," she quipped.
Meanwhile, the legal battle continues to unfold. Baldoni has denied all allegations, and a $400 million countersuit he filed was dismissed last year. Recent court filings saw Baldoni's attorney urging a federal judge to dismiss Lively's case as "petty slights," while Lively's lawyers countered that Baldoni fostered a sexually charged work environment and retaliated against her complaints. If settlement talks fail next month, a trial is scheduled to commence on 18 May.
This incident highlights the tension between celebrity privacy, legal transparency, and the court of public opinion in high-stakes Hollywood disputes.
