The It Ends With Us drama has officially spilled out of Blake Lively’s private inboxes and into court documents, with the world now able to read texts and emails she sent to Taylor Swift, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
A quick recap: The Hollywood actress first filed a complaint against her fellow co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, in December 2024 for sexual harassment.
Baldoni’s legal team called the complaint “shameful” and one that includes “serious and categorically false accusations.”
However, on January 20, Blakey Lively’s ongoing court case against Baldoni became even more public when her private texts (as well as some emails sent by her husband Ryan Reynolds) were read out loud during court proceedings. Now officially included in the trial, the texts and emails were noted in legal documents and are now publicly accessible.
As you can imagine, carnage ensued.
Taylor Swift
On December 4, 2024, Lively and Swift discussed a changing friendship dynamic in their text messages.
Blake Lively: “Hey, just checking in, have no reason to ask, but I donno, l’ve been feeling like I should… is everything OK? I felt like a bad friend lately because I was such a sad sack who only talked about my own shit for months. You were generous to not only be the key person there for me during all of it, but also to let me off the hook for being so in it. But I still have a feeling something may not be right. I told Ryan. He said to just ask you. But I felt so stupid and like it sounded needy and awkward for everyone, especially be I can’t explain why I have this feeling. And you know I have toxic masculinity so I can’t be needy. But also, I do want to know everything is good so I’m asking. I always want the opportunity to be a better friend if there’s something I unintentionally did. I know how busy and taxed you are – physically, emotionally, practically, so I don’t expect any more from you ever. Just want to make sure all is good.”
Taylor Swift: “No you’re not wrong, but it’s also not a big deal. I think I’m just exhausted in every avenue of my life and in recent months had been feeling a little bit of a shift in the way you talk to me. Yes there has been a lot of the Justin stuff but I’ve been through things like this before and I know how all consuming it is. It’s more like… and I feel really bad saying anything about this because your texts have been so nice in their intent but your last few… it’s felt like I was reading a mass corporate email sent to 200 employees. You said the word ‘we’ like 18 times. And it feels awful to be in any way critical of any way you process what you’ve been going through but I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself, not like. A plural unit. When it’s a group l’m hearing from. I feel distanced from you even more than we are geographically. And I know you feel attacked from all sides for ridiculous reasons so you’re feeling like you have to overly explain things or be overly nice or whatever but. It’s me! That’s just caused a little distance. And you don’t need to apologize. Just come back please.”
Ben Affleck
In an email, Lively messaged Ben Affleck on May 17, 2024, to ask for his expertise on the film.
Blake Lively: “I’m writing with a zero pressure ask. I’ve just come out the other side (well almost) of the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie. The making of doc of this film would be more interesting than the movie could ever be. It’s like if Wild Wild Country, Fyre Festival and Going Clear had a baby with The Room … Room also works though,”
Blake Lively: “Anyway, I ended up rewriting and restructuring the entire script, I also ended up having to direct the movie via the chaotic clown ‘director’/actor/producer/financier/studio head at the center. Yes that’s all the same person. oh and did I mention he and everyone he had on the movie is in a cult. If I would’ve just formally directed it, it would’ve been much easier, but having to troubleshoot through his taste, ego and preexisting decisions made it so difficult and that’s not even touching on any of the wild HR issues and beyond. Anyway, now I’m in a bake off with him in the edit. He’s been editing since, I kid you not, July, and they gave me 10 days to do my own pass. We have a bake off in 12 days. But I have a friends and family preview in NY on Saturday in the meantime so I can get one round of notes or feedback before we duke it out.”
Blake Lively: “If your wife or kids are around, I’d love their opinion also (fyi it does cover domestic violence so no one is caught off guard). I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s, I’ve told her as much every time I’ve met her, and it would be an honor to have her take,” Lively added. Affleck was still married to Jennifer Lopez at the time of the email.
Blake Lively: “I just really want this to work after all I’ve put into it. This movie nearly killed me. And I can think of very few people who would be as prescriptive and insightful as I know you would be.”
Matt Damon
In another email exchange, Ryan Reynolds is shown asking Damon and his wife, Luciana Barosso, to watch Blake’s film.
Ryan Reynolds: “This movie has been one of the all time zingers on and off set. One day, we’ll make a movie about the movie. And we can’t wait to tell you all about it. The stories are already finding their place in the pantheon of legendary Hollywood Insanity.”
Blake Lively: Adding more zeroes to the pressure. Thank you for even considering. And it’s not a bad movie. So who knows, you just may enjoy some of it. Be warned it covers domestic violence In key places so just want to be sure you know. This movie nearly killed me. The director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes all one person) had zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste, and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet. I wish even one of these things was hyperbole.
Blake Lively: “Anyway. Juicy stuff. I told him on day one (after so much shit had already gone down). ‘I don’t need anything from you. I don’t need you to guide me or to make me feel good. I’ve got me. All I need from you is, I just need you to not make me feel like shit. That’s it. I’ve got the rest’. And that became true. What I didn’t anticipate was having to do everything in this movie. I rewrote the entire script. I directed every actor. The DP was coming to me when he couldn’t get anything from him. So, way too often. Then after all this Justin wouldn’t bring me into the edit. He had no idea what he had because he didn’t author any of it. They gave me 10 days to scrap together an edit to compete with an edit he’s been making since July. I’ve been sleep about an hour and a half each night bc that’s obviously not enough time so I’ve just been gunning it.”
Matt Damon: “We’ll give you any help we can. And if this experience hasn’t totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at Artists Equity. We’re kind of like a cult but a really nice one.” (Damon and Affleck co-founded the independent production company in 2022.)
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