Text messages from actor and director Justin Baldoni have been made public, revealing significant behind-the-scenes tension with his co-star Blake Lively during the production of their film It Ends With Us. The messages, unsealed as part of an ongoing legal dispute, depict Baldoni as exhausted and accusing Lively of setting a "trap" for him.
Creative Clashes Over Intimate Scenes
According to court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail, the texts were sent by Baldoni, 41, to his then-agent at WME, Danny Greenberg, on 30 December 2023. Baldoni described a "really, really bad week" directing the film, stemming from creative disagreements with Lively, 38.
The core issue centred on the filming of intimate scenes. Baldoni claimed Lively had refused to use a body double and later sought a private meeting at her New York residence, which he believed would focus on how those scenes were shot. "That's just setting me up for a trap," Baldoni wrote, adding that Lively had requested he use a double instead.
He further alleged that Lively was lobbying for both actors to remain clothed in a scene that required nudity, a direct contradiction to the source material, Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. "If you know the book, it's just ridiculous," Baldoni messaged.
A 'Gigantic' On-Set Conflict
The dispute escalated to the point where executives from Sony and producer Todd Black had to intervene. Baldoni described the situation to his agent as "a gigantic clusterf***" and admitted he was willing to concede to 95 percent of Lively's demands simply to maintain peace on set during the 2023 holiday season.
In the texts, Baldoni characterised Lively as "an actress who is rewriting the writer and director," calling the process "very draining" and "time-consuming." His complaints preceded a major meeting involving Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and studio executives, where Lively reportedly presented a list of 17 stipulations.
A source close to Lively responded that these messages were sent only after she had expressed her dissatisfaction with the production elements in question.
Fuel for a Multi-Million Dollar Legal War
These revelations add fuel to the contentious legal battle that has been raging for over a year. In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging body-shaming and a smear campaign.
Baldoni had previously filed a $400 million lawsuit in January 2024 against Lively, Reynolds, and her publicist, which was thrown out of court in June. All parties deny the allegations against them.
The case is due back in court for a hearing on 22 January, with a trial date set for 18 May. Recent filings show Lively's legal team accusing Baldoni's attorneys of overstepping with "probative" inquiries into her sex life during depositions and displaying a "lack of basic decorum."
Despite the film's commercial success—earning $148 million domestically and $350 million globally—its legacy is now overshadowed by the bitter allegations between its stars.
