Court filings reveal private texts and creative clashes as Blake Lively’s dispute with “It Ends With Us” director Justin Baldoni intensifies.
New court documents are offering a closer look at the behind-the-scenes tension surrounding It Ends With Us, as the legal battle between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni moves closer to trial.
Among the filings are private text messages between Lively and her longtime friend Taylor Swift, which were submitted as part of Lively’s lawsuit. In one 2024 exchange, Swift reacted to news coverage about the growing feud by criticizing Baldoni’s response to the situation.
Earlier messages show Lively venting frustration over creative differences, referring to Baldoni in unflattering terms while discussing the film’s development.
The documents point to deep disagreements over the movie’s direction. Lively claims Baldoni’s cut of the film minimized female characters and framed abuse in a way she strongly opposed.
As a result, she says she created her own version of the movie. Those creative conflicts, according to the filings, later spilled into personal and professional strain on set.
Lively also alleges inappropriate behavior by Baldoni during production, accusations supported by statements from some of her co-stars. She claims that after raising concerns, she faced retaliation and a public narrative that painted her as difficult to work with.
Because of this, Lively refused to appear alongside Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath during the film’s promotion.
“They painted themselves as the victims and me as a bully,” Lively said in a court declaration, explaining why she chose to distance herself from joint publicity.
In response, Baldoni, his publicist, and the film’s producers have pushed back, filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. They argue that Lively’s claims amount to minor workplace complaints rather than serious misconduct. A hearing on that motion is scheduled for Thursday.
The case itself is set to go to trial on May 18. As more details emerge through court filings, the dispute has become a high-profile example of how creative control, workplace concerns, and public image can collide in Hollywood—sometimes spilling from private texts into very public legal battles.
