Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s working relationship on It Ends With Us took a dramatic turn, eventually leading to legal battles.
However, photos shared by Baldoni’s legal team suggest that things started off on much friendlier, and even flirty, terms, which add another layer to their ongoing feud.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Flirty Banter Before the Fallout
It turns out the drama between Lively and Baldoni has had some major twists, as court filings reveal that before all the legal trouble, the two were actually quite close — so much so that their messages show a playful, comfortable dynamic.
Rumors of a feud between them over “creative differences” on the set of It Ends With Us first surfaced in August 2024, the same month the movie premiered.
The 41-year-old actor, who also directed the film, was later accused of sexual harassment by the Gossip Girl star. Lively claimed that her co-star made her uncomfortable while filming their intimate scenes.
Baldoni, however, denied the allegations and hit back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit. According to him, Lively not only made false claims but also insulted his appearance, even suggesting he get plastic surgery.
Given how tense things have become, it is hard to believe they once had a close relationship. But leaked messages from Baldoni’s team show that they were actually pretty close back in 2023 when It Ends With Us was just getting started.
In one of the screenshots, Lively, who also produced the film, expressed excitement about their collaboration, saying she was “really proud of what they’re doing.”
Their conversations also included plenty of lighthearted banter. At one point, Baldoni said “I also like a***hole Blake”, and she responded with a quip about a “suppository.”
Baldoni’s team further stated that the two “shared stories and pictures from their lives, commiserated over family illnesses, and exchanged jokes and memes.”
Most of the leaked messages paint a picture of mutual respect and professional support. But as production went on, tensions reportedly escalated.
The Jane the Virgin star claimed that Lively started taking creative control and pushing for script changes, leading to clashes on set.
Interestingly, a leaked seven-minute voice memo from Baldoni to Lively, sent at 2:00 AM in 2023, shows him apologizing to her.
This came after a disagreement over the famous “rooftop scene” from the novel. Lively wanted to make changes, but Baldoni’s reaction to the script rewrite reportedly upset her, prompting her to send a lengthy message. In response, he sent the now-publicized voice memo.
What the Dispute Means for the Future of It Ends With Us
It Ends With Us premiered on August 9, 2024, receiving mixed reviews but achieving box-office success, grossing $351 million worldwide nonetheless.
The film was Baldoni’s passion project. However, when asked about whether he would direct the sequel to It Ends With Us, the director responded with, “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think,” indicating that he believes other people, like Lively, would be better suited for the second film.
At this point, the issues between the two hadn’t yet come to light, aside from a few rumors. Now, the Five Feet Apart director claimed in his lawsuit that Lively had never read the book, which led her to allegedly make “wrongheaded creative decisions” during the movie’s production.
It’s still uncertain how the lawsuits and bombshell revelations will affect the chances of Colleen Hoover’s sequel novel being adapted into a film.
However, with the author publicly supporting the Gossip Girl alum and expressing dissatisfaction with the director, signs suggest that others may be poised to direct the sequel.