An audio recording sent by Blake Lively to Justin Baldoni has surfaced as part of the ongoing legal conflict involving the stars of It Ends With Us. The message provides a rare insight into their interaction and working relationship prior to the breakdown of their collaboration in 2023. This development is crucial as it centers on the Blake Lively audio message, a key element in the case raising questions about the circumstances on the film’s set.
Lively and Baldoni’s dispute began after filming wrapped, with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment. Her claims detail several uncomfortable encounters during production, where she portrayed Baldoni’s love interest. The release of her audio message offers a contrasting perspective to her allegations, revealing discussions around scheduling and personal stresses rather than conflict.
Context Surrounding the Audio Message
In the recording obtained by Fox News Digital, Lively spoke candidly about her desire to adjust the filming timeline for It Ends With Us, citing personal and professional pressures. She explained that her request to push back the start date stemmed from her own challenges, including managing back-to-back projects and the demands of new motherhood.
Lively began the message by saying:
“Hey, I hope you’re so well. Just wanted to connect, just to put something on your radar,”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
“So, between us, like this is so premature for me to even share this with you. All good, all good stuff. Headline is great, good, great stuff. But I was talking to Ryan, and I was like, I don’t know if we should share this, but he was like you guys have such a great trust, you know, filament.”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
She described feeling overwhelmed, struggling without consistent childcare support after giving birth to her fourth child with Ryan Reynolds earlier in 2023.
“I don’t talk to him like I talk to you. So I haven’t told him, like, how stressed I’ve been with not having a baby nurse. Still don’t have one, by the way. I found someone, and she was only available for like five days,”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
“But anyway, still not a baby nurse, just the idea of going back to work right away. And also the idea of like… You know, prepping for our movie and like wanting to work out every day and all that. But yet being on set all day every day, I’m like, ‘What have I done?’”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
Lively emphasized that filming in March or April was too soon post-childbirth, given her need to heal and regain strength.
“Shooting in April, shooting in March is just too soon after having a baby and not sleeping and wanting to be in my best shape and all that,”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
Her message also offered the possibility of moving the production start date earlier, acknowledging selfish motivations tied to wanting to minimize time apart from her husband.
“So, I just wanted to let you know that, like, in case you wanted to go a couple weeks earlier, you’re welcome to, and obviously there are selfish reasons I’m telling you this. I know that our schedules are scheduled. I’m not trying to move anything, but, like, if by chance you’re like, ‘Oh my God, if I could go two weeks earlier that would actually be great,’ then amazing.”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
“Ryan and I have also been really stressed about spending a month apart… none of it’s your problem. That’s why I’m talking to you as a friend at this point more than anything.”
Blake Lively, in an audio message to Justin Baldoni.
Legal Reactions to the Audio and Its Implications
Entertainment attorneys analyzing the recording agree it does not serve as definitive proof in the case but does bolster the defense’s narrative that the lawsuit might revolve around disputes over production control rather than claims of harassment.
“Nothing about these recordings reflect a ‘smoking gun’ in the litigation, but they further bolster Baldoni’s claims that this lawsuit has nothing to do with sexual harassment or retaliation on his part, but is about efforts by Lively to take over the production and control creative elements,”
Tre Lovell, entertainment attorney.
Another legal expert explained the audio could be used strategically by Baldoni’s team to shape public perception and increase pressure on Lively’s side.
“Of course, the messages make it look like Lively may have been difficult to work with, since she was essentially demanding a change in the production schedule and this plays into Baldoni’s argument that she used these claims as leverage to get her way,”
Jordan Matthews, entertainment attorney.
“Regardless, there is almost certainly more context and this case will very likely make it past the summary judgment stage and proceed to trial, so a jury can make the ultimate determination.”
Jordan Matthews, entertainment attorney.
The audio’s contents challenge the severity of Lively’s sexual harassment accusations and raise questions about her credibility in the eyes of the court.
“The allegations come off as if Justin Baldoni is this awful person who is harassing her, demeaning her, yelling at her, and then you have these voicemails from her that show her being nice and thankful to him,”
Bryan Sullivan, partner at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP.
“From a jury perspective … this is how a judge would look at it – Does this raise an issue of credibility of what she’s saying? And it could, because could a jury hearing this think that she is lying, exaggerating, misstating? Only remembering the bad stuff?”
Bryan Sullivan, partner at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP.
“The judge will not make credibility determinations if they see that there’s a credibility issue. They will deny the motion and let the jury decide.”
Bryan Sullivan, partner at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP.
Defense attorneys anticipate the case will be heard by a jury rather than being dismissed early due to its complex “he said, she said” nature.
“Generally, in a he said/she said case, courts rarely grant summary judgments,”
Oleg Nekritin, defense attorney at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot.
“Instead, they permit the jury to make findings of fact about the allegations and defenses of the parties.”
Oleg Nekritin, defense attorney at the Law Offices of Robert J. DeGroot.
Baldoni countered in a lawsuit filed in January 2025, alleging the accusations were false and motivated by Lively’s attempt to salvage her reputation after issues during the film’s promotional period. That suit, however, was dismissed.
Additional Legal Documents Reveal Depositions and Text Messages
On January 21, a set of documents including depositions and text conversations was disclosed to support Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment. These documents add further layers to the legal arguments, showing Lively’s testimony about interactions with Baldoni, the director Jamey Heath, and producer Alex Saks.
During her deposition on July 31, Lively described a meeting where she discussed incidents on set but chose to label them as HR-related rather than sexual harassment. Her lawyer questioned this choice, as she recounted encounters that she felt were clearly inappropriate.
“I remember discussing the video that Jamey showed me. I remember discussing the – Jamey entering my trailer. And I remember – I don’t know if I told him this or if this is another thing that Ange shared, but how bad it felt for him to tell me personally that I felt sex – that I looked sexy and that I looked hot, and that I was also disturbed by the way that I understood Jenny to be feeling and experiences I’d seen with her,”
Blake Lively, during deposition, according to court documents.
Despite initially using the term “HR claims,” Lively maintained the behaviors described were “pretty obviously sexual harassment.”
What the Future Holds for the Legal Battle
The release of Blake Lively’s audio message adds a complex dimension to the lawsuit, creating tensions surrounding the credibility and motives of both parties. With contrasting narratives and the involvement of multiple key figures such as Jamey Heath, Alex Saks, and Ryan Reynolds, the case illustrates the challenges inherent in disputes within high-profile film productions.
Legal experts agree the matter will likely proceed to trial, where a jury will scrutinize the evidence and testimonies to reach a verdict. The unfolding drama reveals the difficulties faced behind the scenes of major films, highlighting issues related to workplace conduct, creative control, and personal relationships intersecting under intense public scrutiny.
