Key Takeaways
- Blake Lively’s 2024 communications with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and his wife Lucy Damon have been unsealed in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni and his "It Ends With Us" producing partners.
- The unsealed texts and emails reveal Lively’s challenges with the film, including her complaints about Baldoni’s lack of experience and her own role in rewriting the script and directing actors.
- Lively asked Affleck, Damon, and their families to watch and critique her cut of the film, which she assembled in 10 days to compete with Baldoni’s version.
- The case is ongoing, with Lively’s attorneys seeking sanctions against the defendants for allegedly failing to preserve their communications, and the defense seeking to end the legal battle without going to trial.
Introduction to the Case
The latest developments in Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni and his "It Ends With Us" producing partners have shed light on the actress’s challenges with the film. Hundreds of exhibits, including texts and emails from May 2024, were unsealed on January 20, revealing Lively’s communications with Hollywood A-listers Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and his wife Lucy Damon. The unsealed documents provide a glimpse into Lively’s frustrations with the film and her efforts to seek feedback from industry professionals.
Lively’s Communications with Affleck and Damon
In an apparent group chat with the Damons, Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, accepted their offer to watch the film, adding that it was "such a zero pressure ask." Lively seconded this, unveiling her complaints about Baldoni and the challenges she faced during the production of the film. She claimed that Baldoni, who directed and starred in the film, had "zero experience" and that she had to rewrite the entire script and direct every actor. Lively also alleged that the director of photography would often come to her for guidance, as he was unable to get direction from Baldoni.
Lively’s Request for Feedback
Lively asked Affleck, Damon, and their families to watch and critique her cut of the film, which she assembled in 10 days to compete with Baldoni’s version. She reached out to Affleck via email, asking if he would be willing to watch the movie and provide feedback. Lively also expressed her admiration for Affleck’s partner, Jennifer Lopez, and asked if she would be willing to watch the film and provide her opinion. In a separate exchange with the Damons, Lively invited their daughters to a "family and friends" screening of her cut in New York.
Response from Affleck and Damon
Matt Damon replied to Lively’s request, offering his support and suggesting that she should consider directing her next film at Artists Equity, the production company he co-founded with Affleck. Lucy Damon also chimed in, offering to watch the film and provide feedback. However, Lively alleged that instead of sending feedback, the Damons reached out to Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group CEO Tom Rothman to try to push her edit through without a bake-off with Baldoni.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni commenced at the end of 2024, when Lively filed a California complaint alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The case is ongoing, with Lively’s attorneys seeking sanctions against the defendants for allegedly failing to preserve their communications. The defense is seeking to end the legal battle without going to trial, and the case returned to a Manhattan courtroom on January 22 to hash out these issues. Lively’s allegations against Baldoni and his producing partners have been the subject of much scrutiny, and the unsealed documents provide a glimpse into the challenges she faced during the production of "It Ends With Us".
