Recent disclosures in a New York civil court have unveiled a string of intense text messages sent by Blake Lively to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon amidst her legal dispute with co-star Justin Baldoni. These Ben Affleck Blake Lively Texts reveal her account of the behind-the-scenes turmoil during the production of It Ends With Us, shining a spotlight on her allegations against Baldoni and the chaotic environment surrounding the movie.
Blake Lively Describes Harrowing Experience on Set
On January 20, 2026, unsealed court documents brought to light private communications between Blake Lively and members of the Damon family, including Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Damon, as well as Ben Affleck. These exchanges took place in a group chat where Lively sought their backing for her version of the film over the one presented by Baldoni. The messages, dated May 2024, portray Baldoni as inexperienced, with Lively expressing extreme distress over how the project unfolded.
Lively candidly remarked:
“This movie nearly killed me. The director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes, all one person) had zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste, and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet. I wish even one of these things was hyperbole… What I didn’t anticipate was having to do everything in this movie.”
The 38-year-old actress further detailed the extensive responsibilities she had to undertake, claiming she rewrote the entire script and directed the cast due to Baldoni’s shortcomings. Despite her significant creative contributions, she said she was excluded from post-production and pressured to create a competitive edit within just ten days, while Baldoni had months to assemble his version. She stated:
“I rewrote the entire script. I directed every actor. The DP was coming to me when he couldn’t get anything from him. So, way too often. Then, after all this, Justin wouldn’t bring me into the [?]. He had no idea what he had because he didn’t author any of it. They gave me 10 days to scrap together an edit to compete with an edit he’s been making since July. I’ve been sleep about an hour and a half each night bc that’s obviously not enough time, so I’ve just been gunning it.”
Matt Damon Offers Support and Encouragement
Among the responses Lively received, Matt Damon’s message stood out for its supportive tone mixed with humor. Damon and his wife offered assistance and suggested she consider directing her next project at Artists Equity, their production company co-founded with Ben Affleck. Damon humorously wrote:
“We’ll give you any help we can. And if this experience hasn’t totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at Artists Equity. We’re kind of like a cult but a really nice one.”
Court records indicated that Artists Equity also reached out to Sony in an effort to endorse Lively’s version of the film, demonstrating industry support amid the ongoing conflict.
Blake Lively’s Critical Email to Ben Affleck
At the same time as the group chat messages, Lively sent an email to Ben Affleck in which she disparaged Justin Baldoni as a “chaotic clown,” accusing him of severely hindering her ability to direct due to his ego. She alleged that everyone involved in the movie was connected to a cult, though specifics remain unclear. The email included the following passage:
“I ended up rewriting and restructuring the entire script. I also ended up having to direct the movie via the chaotic clown ‘director’/actor/producer/financier/studio head at the centre. Yes, that’s all the same person. Oh, and did I mention he and everyone he had in the movie is in a cult? If I would’ve just formally directed it, it would’ve been much easier, but having to troubleshoot through his taste, ego and preexisting decisions made it so difficult, and that’s not even touching on any of the wild HR issues and beyond.”
This email adds further context to the creative and management turmoil Lively claims to have endured throughout the film’s production process.
Reactions from Industry Figures
In addition to exchanges with Damon and Affleck, Lively shared that Colleen Hoover, author of the novel It Ends With Us, attended a screening of her cut of the movie and reacted positively. Lively said the screening “killed in the room,” suggesting high enthusiasm. She also mentioned that Bradley Cooper viewed her edit twice, which
“made [her] feel so good about the cut.”
These references convey the mixed but supportive response from prominent figures toward Lively’s version.
Current Status of the Legal Dispute
The disclosed texts and emails form part of the evidence in Blake Lively’s ongoing legal conflict with Justin Baldoni. What started as a disagreement over creative vision between co-stars has intensified into a highly contentious lawsuit. With the release of these messages, public attention has been renewed on the case, though its outcome remains uncertain.
This battle not only exposes the complexity of collaborative filmmaking when egos and creative control collide, but also highlights wider industry challenges faced by actors pushing for creative input in projects. The involvement of influential figures such as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon underscores the high stakes and significant professional relationships entwined in this dispute.
As the case unfolds, its repercussions could affect Hollywood’s approach to co-star collaborations and the power dynamics on film productions, potentially leading to greater transparency and respect for creative contributions across the board.
