The internet has been obsessed with the fallout between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Honestly, if you’ve been following the It Ends With Us drama, you know it’s been a messy, confusing swirl of rumors and legal filings. But recently, a mountain of unsealed documents and leaked communications has shifted the narrative.
We aren't just talking about blind items anymore. We are talking about actual logs. Court filings. Real data.
The texts between blake and justin—and their respective teams—paint a picture of a production that didn't just have "creative differences." It was a battlefield. One side claims it was a hostile work environment fueled by harassment, while the other suggests it was a "hijacking" by a powerful Hollywood couple.
The "Trap" and the Body Double Dispute
In January 2026, the public finally got a look at some of the most candid messages Justin Baldoni ever sent. On December 30, 2023, Justin texted his then-agent, Danny Greenberg. He didn't hold back. He called the production a "gigantic cluster f*ck."
Specifically, he was venting about a dispute over intimate scenes. According to the texts, Blake reportedly refused a body double for herself but insisted Justin use one.
👉 See also: John Candy: How Did He Die and the Health Struggles He Kept Private
"That's just setting me up for a trap," Justin wrote.
He was worried. He felt that by being the only one physically present in the scene while she used a double, he was being exposed to future accusations or a skewed power dynamic. He told his agent he was giving her "95% of what she wants for peace," but that working with an actress who was "rewriting the writer and director" was draining.
It’s a bizarre situation. Usually, actors fight not to use doubles. Here, the director felt the refusal was a calculated move to corner him.
The PR War: "We Can Bury Anyone"
If you think the actors were the only ones talking, you're wrong. The texts between blake and justin’s legal teams and PR reps are even more revealing. In late 2024, Blake filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a coordinated smear campaign.
The evidence? Messages between Justin’s PR team, including Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
In one exchange, Nathan allegedly wrote, "You know we can bury anyone."
Another text mentioned "scenario planning" and having "reckless thoughts" about planting stories about how horrible Blake was to work with. Justin’s defense is that these messages were taken out of context. He claims they were simply monitoring the organic fallout of Blake’s own press tour—you know, the one where she was criticized for being "tone-deaf" while promoting hair care during a domestic violence movie launch.
The sheer volume of these messages is staggering. Over 100 texts were released by Justin's team to show that they were actually trying to suppress negative stories, not plant them.
The "Buckingham Palace" Meetings
We also have to talk about the physical space where this conflict happened. During his October 2025 deposition, Justin revealed that Blake requested meetings take place at her home office.
She reportedly called it "Buckingham Palace."
Why? Because so many celebrities walked through there. It sounds like a joke, but in the context of a $160 million lawsuit, it becomes a point of contention. Justin used this detail to argue that Blake used her "Hollywood clout" and her social circle—which famously includes Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds—to exert control over the film.
Did Ryan Reynolds Write the Script?
One of the most famous moments from the It Ends With Us press tour was when Blake revealed her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote the iconic rooftop scene.
"Nobody knows that but you now," she told a reporter.
Well, everyone knows it now. And it’s a major part of the legal battle. Justin’s team pointed to this as evidence of "creative hijacking." The texts show Justin was blindsided by these changes. He felt his authority as the director was being stripped away piece by piece.
There was even a text where he complained about Blake "rewriting the writer and director." He was frustrated. He was losing his movie.
The Harassment Allegations
We can't overlook the gravity of what started the legal fire. Blake sued for sexual harassment, alleging that Justin made inappropriate comments and touched her in ways that made her uncomfortable.
One specific allegation involved a dancing scene where she claims he dragged his lips down her neck. Justin’s response? He released ten minutes of raw footage from that day to prove it was professional.
His legal team also produced texts between blake and justin from June 2023. In one, Blake invited him into her trailer to rehearse lines while she was pumping breast milk. Justin’s lawyers argue this shows a level of "intimate comfort" that contradicts the idea that she was afraid of him or felt harassed at that time.
Blake’s side, however, says these friendly texts were sent before she realized the extent of the misconduct or were an attempt to keep the peace for the sake of the crew.
What Happens Next?
The legal saga is far from over. The trial is currently set for May 2026. Here is what you should keep an eye on as the case progresses:
💡 You might also like: Sharon Stone Naked: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- The Taylor Swift Subpoena: Justin’s team has been granted access to Blake’s texts with Taylor Swift. They want to see if the two discussed "coercing" Justin into giving up creative control.
- The "Extortion" Claim: Justin’s $400 million countersuit was dismissed by a judge in June 2025, but the allegations of extortion—specifically that Blake threatened to tank the movie if she didn't get her way—remain a massive part of the public discourse.
- The Verdict on the Smear Campaign: The court will eventually have to decide if those "bury her" texts were sarcasm or a blueprint for character assassination.
If you are following this, the best thing you can do is look at the primary sources. Don't rely on TikTok summaries. Read the unsealed transcripts. The texts between blake and justin show that behind every "perfect" Hollywood production, there is often a very expensive, very loud disagreement that even the best PR team can't hide forever.