12 Bombshell Texts: The Full Story Behind Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni’s Legal War Over 'It Ends With Us'

In one of Hollywood’s most explosive and unexpected legal battles, the private text messages exchanged between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have become the central evidence in a high-stakes, multi-million dollar legal war. As of December 10, 2025, the consolidated lawsuits, which include allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and a massive $400 million counterclaim, have postponed their New York trial until May 2026, keeping the focus squarely on the hundreds of private communications released by Baldoni’s legal team. This saga, rooted in the production of the highly anticipated film It Ends With Us, reveals a starkly different narrative depending on whose side of the text thread you read.

The controversy first erupted when Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, her director and co-star in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, quickly responded with a defamation suit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, claiming the allegations were a calculated effort to destroy Baldoni’s reputation. The key to both cases? The intimate, professional, and increasingly tense text messages exchanged between the two actors.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni: A Biographical Snapshot

The core of this drama involves two prominent Hollywood figures whose careers took a sharp turn after collaborating on a major adaptation.

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Blake Lively

• Full Name: Blake Ellender Lively (née Brown)
• Born: August 25, 1987 (Age 38 as of 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Spouse: Ryan Reynolds (m. 2012)
• Children: Four daughters
• Breakthrough Role: Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl (2007–2012)
• Notable Films: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Town, A Simple Favor, It Ends With Us (2024)
• Role in Lawsuit: Plaintiff, accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and professional misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us.

Justin Baldoni

• Full Name: Justin Louis Baldoni
• Born: January 24, 1984 (Age 41 as of 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Spouse: Emily Baldoni (m. 2013)
• Notable Roles: Rafael Solano in Jane the Virgin, Director/Star of Five Feet Apart, Director/Star of It Ends With Us (2024)
• Role in Lawsuit: Defendant in Lively’s lawsuit; Plaintiff in a $400 million defamation counterclaim against Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
• Other Ventures: Founder of Wayfarer Studios, host of the TED Talk "Why I'm Done Trying to Be 'Man Enough'."

The Two Sides of the Text Messages: Affectionate Co-Stars vs. Harassment

The hundreds of text messages released by Justin Baldoni’s legal team via a dedicated website were intended to demonstrate a friendly, collaborative, and even "affectionate" relationship between the co-stars, directly contradicting Lively's claims of a hostile work environment. Baldoni’s team argues that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, omitted critical context to paint a false picture of harassment.

Conversely, Lively’s legal team asserts that the messages, particularly when viewed alongside alleged on-set misconduct—such as forcing unwanted kiss scenes and incidents of Baldoni allegedly watching her naked in a trailer—are evidence of a pattern of inappropriate behavior that escalated into a toxic environment.

The key contention lies in the interpretation of the messages: were they the playful, supportive banter of two actors collaborating closely, or were they part of a sophisticated grooming technique that Lively later rejected?

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The Most Damning and Revealing Texts in the Lawsuit

The following messages, as revealed in court filings and legal documents, represent the most highly scrutinized exchanges, with each side offering a vastly different interpretation of their meaning:

1. The 'Pumping in My Trailer' Text (June 2, 2023)

• Lively’s Alleged Text: "I'm just pumping in my trailer if you want to work out our lines."
• Context: This message was allegedly sent by Lively to Baldoni during the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s team presented it as evidence of a casual, close working relationship, suggesting a comfort level that contradicts a harassment claim. Lively’s team, however, could argue that a director/co-star requesting a meeting during a private, vulnerable moment like pumping is a form of boundary violation.

2. The 'Little Bump' and Post-Pregnancy Exchange

• Context: A series of messages allegedly involved Baldoni congratulating Lively on her "little bump," referencing her post-pregnancy body after the birth of her fourth child.
• Interpretation: Baldoni’s team claimed the conversation showed mutual support and shared jokes. Lively’s complaint cited this and related comments as part of the alleged "fat-shaming" and inappropriate focus on her body, contributing to the hostile environment.

3. The 'Cutesy' Early Messages

• Context: Early in the production, Baldoni released messages described as "cutesy" and "affectionate" exchanges between the two.
• Interpretation: Baldoni’s defense relies on these to establish that the relationship began on friendly terms, suggesting a later breakdown was due to professional disagreements, not harassment. Lively's side views these initial messages as part of the emotional manipulation that preceded the alleged misconduct.

4. The Ryan Reynolds Texts

• Context: Justin Baldoni released alleged texts with Ryan Reynolds, which were exchanged after Baldoni was reportedly confronted by the "angry husband."
• Interpretation: These messages are a key part of Baldoni’s defamation counterclaim, which accuses Reynolds of playing a central role in a campaign to "destroy" Baldoni's reputation. The texts allegedly show a tense clash as the legal feud intensified, suggesting a concerted effort by the couple.

The Lawsuit’s Escalation and the May 2026 Trial Date

The legal drama has evolved into a complex, multi-faceted case in the Southern District of New York. Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios was met with a massive $400 million counterclaim for defamation, with Baldoni and his company alleging that Lively and Reynolds orchestrated a smear campaign.

In February 2025, Lively’s legal team subpoenaed Baldoni’s phone records, seeking more texts and communications to build their case. This move was countered by Baldoni’s public release of the texts, which he claimed were being taken out of "critical context."

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The latest update in this legal saga is the postponement of the trial. Originally scheduled for March 2026, the New York trial has been delayed by Judge Lewis J. Liman to May 18, 2026. This delay gives both sides more time to prepare their arguments, which will undoubtedly hinge on the thousands of pages of text message evidence. The consolidation of the lawsuits means that the court will be examining both the sexual harassment claims and the defamation counterclaims simultaneously, promising a dramatic and highly publicized courtroom battle.

Topical Authority: The Entanglements of Hollywood and Law

The "Blake Lively Justin Baldoni texts" case has become a landmark example of how private communications can be weaponized in high-profile legal disputes. The key entities involved—Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, and Colleen Hoover (whose book *It Ends With Us* is the central project)—are all experiencing a public relations and legal crisis. Baldoni's decision to launch a public website detailing his side of the story and releasing texts, including those with Rainn Wilson who allegedly showed support for Baldoni, is a highly unusual and aggressive legal strategy.

The core legal question remains: Do the texts, when viewed in their entirety, prove a pattern of sexual harassment and professional misconduct, or do they merely illustrate a close, but ultimately deteriorating, working relationship that was weaponized for a smear campaign? The eventual May 2026 trial will determine whether the "cutesy" messages were a cover for abuse or if the harassment claims were a calculated move by a powerful Hollywood couple.