An unexpected email from Blake Lively to fellow actor and producer Ben Affleck has come to light this week, revealing her frustrations over working conditions during the filming of It Ends With Us. The leaked correspondence sheds light on the ongoing legal battle between Lively and her co-star Justin Baldoni, unveiling the tension behind the scenes of the 2023 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
The email references the difficult experience Lively endured throughout the production, a key focus of the highly anticipated lawsuit set to begin in May 2025. The actress sought Affleck’s advice and feedback on the film, showcasing the strain she faced while collaborating with director Baldoni and his team at Wayfarer Studios.
Background on the Dispute Between Lively and Baldoni
It Ends With Us was released last year, featuring Blake Lively as Lily Bloom opposite Justin Baldoni’s character, Ryle Kincaid. Early in the promotional period, observers noted a distant relationship between the two leads, who rarely appeared together publicly. The strain became more apparent in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios.
In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively of defamation. This countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, yet the feud is far from over, with a court trial scheduled to start in May. The conflict has drawn significant media attention, with emerging court documents exposing private messages between Lively and several well-known figures.
Excerpts from Blake Lively’s Email to Ben Affleck
Among these documents is a peculiar email Lively sent to Affleck, where she initially introduces herself with a light-hearted remark:
Ben, It’s Blake. Don’t hang up.
The tone quickly turns serious as she explains the emotional toll the project has taken on her.
She describes the film’s production as a chaotic ordeal, comparing the accompanying documentary potential humorously to infamous disasters:
It’s like if Wild Wild country, Fyre Festival and Going Clear had a baby with The Room.
Lively explains to Affleck she was forced to extensively rewrite and trim the script due to turmoil on set, calling the director a “chaotic clown” and suggesting he and his crew were involved in questionable behavior:
He and everyone he had on the movie is in a cult,
she writes. She details a stressful “bake off” situation involving edits:
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.
The actress earnestly asks Affleck if he could find time to watch the film and share his notes, emphasizing there was no pressure but expressing deep hope that the project would succeed after her investment: Again, zero pressure, she said, explaining that the making of the movie nearly destroyed her emotionally.
She then highlights the support of friends like Ryan Reynolds and Matt Damon in reviewing the film, exclaiming with humor her astonishment:
“Can you believe Jason Bourne is watching my movie!?!?!”
She signs off with a playful promise:
I’ll get you an autograph one day. Don’t worry.
Her closing remark to Affleck blends humor with a sense of desperation:
If you’re still reading this, whoa. You’re not nearly as busy as you think. or you’re a very nice person.
Context of Support from Hollywood Peers
The leak also reveals supporting messages from other celebrities. Taylor Swift, a close friend of Lively, publicly criticizes Baldoni in a text, labeling him a “b***h.” Similarly, Lucy Damon, spouse of Matt Damon, voices her backing by calling Baldoni a “creep.” These private exchanges underline the personal and professional pressure surrounding the case.
What the Upcoming Trial Could Mean for Those Involved
The trial scheduled for May will examine serious allegations of harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us. The leaked email and texts expose the depth of conflict behind the scenes and highlight the toll it has taken on Blake Lively. For Ben Affleck, whose feedback was sought, the situation casts a spotlight on the intricate dynamics within Hollywood productions and the challenges actors face when disputes arise.
As both parties prepare for the court battle, the industry closely watches how these revelations might influence public perception of involved parties and potentially reshape workplace conduct standards within film production.
