Hollywood loves a good drama, but the fallout from It Ends With Us is something else entirely. It's not just about a movie anymore. It’s a legal war. We’ve all seen the headlines about the "rift" between stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. But lately, the conversation has shifted. It's focused on one thing: the paper trail. Specifically, the unsealed blake.lively texts to justin and the private messages that have turned a messy press tour into a multi-million dollar courtroom battle.
Honestly, it feels like high school drama with a $400 million price tag.
For months, the internet speculated about why the two leads wouldn't stand in the same room together during the premiere. Now, thanks to court filings in early 2026, we actually have the receipts. These aren't just polite "see you on set" notes. They are windows into a production that Baldoni himself reportedly described in a text as a "gigantic cluster f*ck."
The "Trap" and the Body Double Dispute
One of the most explosive revelations comes from a text Justin Baldoni sent to his agent, Danny Greenberg, in December 2023. This was right as the production was ramping back up after the Hollywood strikes. In the message, Baldoni vented about Lively’s refusal to use a body double for the film’s intimate scenes.
He didn't see it as a creative choice. He saw it as a "trap."
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Why? Because according to the unsealed documents, there was a massive disagreement over how those scenes should be shot. Baldoni claimed that Lively rejected all of his storyboards. She allegedly pushed to keep more clothes on, while he felt the scenes needed to stay true to the steamier nature of the book. By refusing a body double but then inviting him to a private meeting at her house to discuss the scenes, Baldoni told his agent he felt he was being set up for an accusation.
It's a "he said, she said" that has now reached the federal court system.
The "95% Rule" and the Power Struggle
Baldoni’s texts reveal a director who felt he was losing his own movie. He told his agent he was giving Lively "95% of what she wants for peace." He described the experience as "brutal" and "draining." He even complained that she was effectively "rewriting the writer and director."
But if you look at the other side, the story changes. Sources close to Lively argue that these texts were sent only after she had raised serious concerns about a hostile work environment. They claim the "95%" wasn't about creative freedom—it was about basic safety and professional boundaries.
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What the Leaked Messages Actually Say
When people search for blake.lively texts to justin, they often find fragments. Here is the breakdown of what has actually surfaced in the legal filings as of early 2026:
- The "Love Language" Text: In one exchange, Lively reportedly wrote to Baldoni: "If you knew me (in person) longer you’d have a sense of how flirty and yummy the ball-busting will play. It’s my love language. Spicy and playfully bold, never with teeth." Baldoni’s team has used this to argue that the atmosphere was lighthearted, while Lively’s team suggests it’s been taken out of context to minimize her harassment claims.
- The "Creeps" Message: In an amended complaint, a text from Lively to a mutual friend surfaced. In it, she refers to Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath as "creeps" and "clowns." She wrote, "Like keep your hormones to yourselves... I don’t want your gaze or words or tongue or videos of your naked wife." This refers to an allegation that Baldoni showed a video of his wife giving birth to people on set.
- The Ryan Reynolds Factor: Texts between Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds have also been part of the discovery process. While one message shows Reynolds saying he "adores" Justin, Baldoni’s later lawsuits describe a "traumatic" meeting at the couple's home where Reynolds allegedly berated him for hours to force creative concessions.
The Smear Campaign Allegations
This isn't just a dispute over a movie edit. It’s about reputation. Lively sued Baldoni in late 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a "social manipulation" campaign. She claims Baldoni hired professional PR "fixers"—some of the same people involved in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial—to turn the internet against her during the It Ends With Us press tour.
Remember when everyone was mad at Blake for promoting her hair care line while talking about a movie about domestic violence? Her lawsuit claims that backlash wasn't organic. She alleges it was stoked by "bots" and "doctored" information leaked by Baldoni's team.
On the flip side, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit (which was initially dismissed but has seen various appeals and side-litigation). His argument? Lively used her massive star power and her "dragons"—referring to Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift—to bully him out of the creative process and then tried to "cancel" him when he wouldn't go quietly.
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Why This Matters for Hollywood
This case is a mess. But it's an important mess. It highlights the shifting power dynamics on film sets. Usually, the director is the boss. But when the star is also a producer, bankrolling the project, and married to one of the most powerful men in the industry? The lines get blurry.
The blake.lively texts to justin serve as a cautionary tale about "creative friction." Sometimes that friction makes a great movie. Other times, it leads to a May 2026 trial date.
Actionable Insights for the Public
It is easy to get lost in the gossip, but if you're following this story, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Source: Much of what leaked during the 2024 press tour was curated by PR teams. The unsealed court documents from 2025 and 2026 provide a much more nuanced (and darker) picture of what happened.
- Understand "DARVO": Lively’s team has explicitly accused Baldoni of using this tactic—Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It's a term often used in legal battles involving harassment.
- Wait for the Trial: With the trial set for May 18, 2026, more verified communications will likely come to light. Until then, remember that "leaked" texts are often selected specifically to make one side look better.
The story of the blake.lively texts to justin is far from over. It’s moved from the TikTok comments section to a federal courtroom, and the stakes couldn't be higher for everyone involved.
For more updates on the upcoming trial or to see the full list of unsealed exhibits, you can monitor the Southern District of New York court filings or follow reputable legal analysts covering the entertainment beat.