Jameela Jamil, known for her role in The Good Place, addressed the recent exposure of her private text messages amid a heated public controversy involving Blake Lively. On January 23, Jamil took to TikTok to clarify the timing and context of the messages, emphasizing her confusion and frustration over their sudden release.
She remarked,
“I think it’s really weird that my private text messages from 18 months ago have suddenly been released now.”
Jamil also pointed out,
“My name has deliberately been unredacted to cause as much trouble as possible for me even though these text messages have nothing to do with the case.”
Background on the Legal Dispute and Texts’ Relevance
Earlier in the month, Us Weekly confirmed that texts between Jamil and Jennifer Abel, publicist to director Justin Baldoni, became public as part of the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and Blake Lively. Lively has accused Baldoni of harassment and attempts to harm her reputation during the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, allegations he strongly denies.
In the messages obtained by Us Weekly, Abel used harsh language about Lively, saying,
“I want to officially incorporate nightmare c*** and demon c*** into my vocabulary; UNBELIEVABLE; She’s doing this to herself.”
Jamil responded with,
“She’s a suicide bomber at this point,”
and later referred to Lively’s behavior as a “bizarre villain” act.
Clarification on the Timing and Intent of the Comments
Jamil emphasized in her video that her comments did not pertain to the lawsuit itself. She explained,
“Check the dates. They were [sent in] August 2024. The lawsuit wasn’t filed until December 2024. There were four months between when I was saying those things and a lawsuit coming to light.”
She further stated her lack of involvement or knowledge regarding the legal details, saying,
“I had no idea about any of this stuff, so I was just purely venting to my friend about how I felt about the press rollout for that f***ing terrible movie.”
Her criticism stemmed from dissatisfaction with how the film’s promotional interviews addressed sensitive themes including domestic violence, a subject close to her personally.
“I grew up with domestic violence in my home, I was a victim of domestic violence in my 20s [and it] made me feel some type of way,”
Jamil said, adding that the interviews aimed to be sincere but were met with what she described as
“callous or sarcastic or cold or diluted answers,”
which she found offensive.
Criticism of Blake Lively’s Press Responses
Blake Lively, who starred in and executive produced It Ends With Us, received public backlash for her perceived failure to openly address the film’s domestic violence themes during interviews. Jamil recalled texting Abel that Lively’s social media sharing of domestic violence resource lists seemed “so cold.”
“I took it to the group chat, talked about it with my friend who happens to be being treated very badly by some very powerful wealthy celebrities, some of whom are involved,”
Jamil alleged. She expressed fierce loyalty, saying,
“I don’t know about you, but when it’s my girlfriend being upset by anyone, I don’t care what’s going on or who did what. … I see red, I am 10 toes down, balls to the f***ing wall. I will ride dawn for my girlfriends and they will do the same for me.”
The Nature of Jamil’s Private Messages and Group Dynamics
Jamil clarified that her messages were part of private conversations within a close-knit friend group where members vent, gossip, and support each other. She described this bond as “a joyous part of womanhood,” saying, “We’re present for one another.”
Addressing the “suicide bomber” remark directly, she explained,
“It’s a victimless crime because no one’s ever supposed to see those text messages. Me calling her a ‘suicide bomber’ is just a reference to me watching someone use their own terrible answers in interviews to blow up their own career or their own project.”
She elaborated on the private nature of these jokes, stating,
“I would never have put that out there for the world … ‘cause I don’t want to cause harm or trouble for that person. I don’t want to make anyone feel bad. I just want to be able to express that to my friend. That’s healthy [and] that’s normal.”
Reactions and Ongoing Fallout
Blake Lively has not publicly responded to Jamil’s texts. However, a source close to Lively told Us Weekly,
“It’s disappointing that instead of listening to women when they speak out other women call them names and discredit them in defense of a fake male feminist.”
This unfolding controversy highlights the tensions surrounding the legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, as well as the complicated role of celebrity friendships and public perception. The release of private conversations raises questions about privacy and the potential impact on those involved, while Jamil continues to defend her intentions and emphasize the importance of context and timing in understanding these messages.
