New text messages reveal just how candid Blake Lively was about working with Justin Baldoni behind closed doors.
While publicly silent about her It Ends With Us experience during much of their ongoing legal battle, Lively privately unleashed sharp criticism of her director and costar to friend Taylor Swift.
Newly unsealed court documents obtained by PEOPLE expose messages that paint a picture of tension, creative disagreements, and what appears to be strategic maneuvering during production.
These revelations add another layer to a lawsuit that has captivated Hollywood since December 2024.
The Messages That Reveal Everything
According to partially unsealed documents, Lively didn’t mince words when texting Swift about Baldoni during filming. She reportedly called him a “clown” and referred to him as “this doofus director of my movie.”
In one particularly biting message, Lively allegedly wrote that Baldoni “thinks he’s a writer now.”
The tone suggests more than simple frustration—it hints at deeper creative conflicts brewing on set. These weren’t vague complaints; they were specific, pointed criticisms about Baldoni’s approach to the film.
When Taylor Swift Got Involved
Baldoni’s legal team alleges something remarkable: that Lively asked Swift to sign off on a revised script without reading it as Swift headed to Lively’s home where Baldoni was present.
I’ll do anything for you !!
That’s what Swift allegedly replied, according to court documents. Friendship loyalty at its finest—or potentially problematic depending on which side of this legal battle you examine.
After the meeting concluded, Lively reportedly texted Swift praising her performance.
I kept remembering stuff- You making s— up about me and lenses. And referring to yourself as my doll. This clown falling for all of it. But also resisting it.
Lively allegedly called Swift “so epically heroic today” and noted she “recapped every moment” to husband Ryan Reynolds.
What These Messages Really Mean
The language Lively used suggests she viewed interactions with Baldoni almost as performances requiring strategy. Words like “falling for all of it” imply calculated moves rather than straightforward collaboration.
This wasn’t just complaining to a friend. According to Baldoni’s interpretation, these messages indicate orchestrated efforts to control creative direction.
Whether that constitutes improper behavior or simply an actress fighting for her vision depends entirely on perspective. Hollywood creative disputes happen constantly; they rarely end up in federal court.
The Legal Battle Breakdown
Lively initiated legal action in December 2024, filing a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department. Her allegations included sexual harassment and claims that Baldoni organized a coordinated smear campaign against her.
She followed with a federal lawsuit in New York against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, his production company.
Baldoni fired back with his own $400 million countersuit, claiming:
- Civil extortion
- Defamation
- Breach of contract
- Invasion of privacy
That countersuit was dismissed in June, though the primary legal proceedings continue.
Taylor Swift’s Firm Distance
Despite her well-documented friendship with Lively dating back to 2015, Swift has aggressively maintained separation from this legal mess.
When Baldoni’s attorneys attempted to subpoena Swift in May for testimony, her team responded with an unusually detailed rebuttal.
Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.
The statement’s specificity suggests Swift’s team wanted zero ambiguity about her non-involvement. Being dragged into someone else’s lawsuit isn’t exactly ideal when you’re running a billion-dollar touring operation.
What Happens Next
These newly unsealed messages will likely become key evidence as litigation continues. They provide concrete documentation of Lively’s private feelings about Baldoni during production.
How courts interpret them remains uncertain. Do they demonstrate legitimate concerns about inappropriate behavior, or do they show manipulation and creative overreach?
Context matters enormously. Isolated text messages rarely tell complete stories, especially when extracted from months-long production periods involving hundreds of people.
Representatives for Swift, Lively, and Baldoni have been contacted but haven’t provided additional comment on these specific messages.
What started as a romantic drama about domestic violence has transformed into one of Hollywood’s messiest legal battles in recent memory. And based on these newly revealed texts, the behind-the-scenes reality was far more complicated than anyone watching the film could have imagined.