Before tensions escalated between them, director Justin Baldoni expressed admiration for actress Blake Lively in a leaked voice note related to the 2024 film It Ends With Us. The recording, made prior to production and before Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, captures the director thanking Lively for sharing photos of her costume fittings. The voice note reveals Baldoni’s genuine excitement and appreciation for her efforts as the film’s work began.
In the message obtained by TMZ on Monday, Baldoni, 42, tells Lively, 38, that seeing images from her fitting gave him chills and that she looked “beautiful.” This early display of praise contrasts sharply with the subsequent disputes that would arise on set, later leading to legal battles between the two stars.
Conflict Emerges Over Costume Choices and Production Challenges
Although Baldoni initially complimented Lively’s wardrobe during the costume fitting phase, disagreements soon surfaced regarding the creative direction of her character, Lily Bloom. According to reports, the film’s budget increased by $430,000 due to Lively’s demands for wardrobe changes to better suit her vision of the role.
Baldoni also claimed that Lively often avoided attending fittings at the production office located near her Manhattan home, instead insisting that outfits be shipped directly to her, resulting in added expenses. Documents from Baldoni’s countersuit, which was later dismissed, stated that the studio and Baldoni
“ceded full control to Lively over her wardrobe”
in an attempt to maintain peace and prevent delays, a decision described as “regrettable.”
The creative dispute extended beyond initial fittings, as paparazzi photos released in May 2023 showed Lively wearing outfits with patchwork, denim, and camouflage designs that received unfavorable media reactions. Sony reportedly criticized these images, worrying they would negatively affect public perception of the film.
“Baldoni received direct criticism from Sony, who voiced serious concerns about the impact of the photos on the film’s public reception,”
the lawsuit states.
Blake Lively’s Personal Contributions to Her Film Wardrobe
Lively reportedly sourced pieces from her own jewelry collection and borrowed clothing from her friend, model Gigi Hadid, to complete her character’s look for the movie. These personal touches added a unique element to Lily Bloom’s on-screen appearance, but did not prevent tensions surrounding costume choices from escalating further. The conflict added pressure on production as the star and director struggled to align their creative visions.
New Audio Surfaces Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute Over Allegations
The leaked voice note resurfaced days after another recording emerged, casting doubt on Lively’s claim that Baldoni fat-shamed her. That audio, obtained from court documents in New York, features Lively speaking to Baldoni in February 2023, only weeks after giving birth to her fourth child and well before filming began.
As Baldoni seeks to have Lively’s $160 million sexual harassment lawsuit dismissed ahead of their May trial, this recording appears to challenge part of her allegations. Lively has accused Baldoni of making humiliating remarks about her weight, conveyed to her by her personal trainer Dan Saladino, and additionally claims he sexually harassed her on set and launched a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni Denies Accusations Amid Failed Countersuit
Baldoni has denied all allegations brought by Lively. In return, he filed a countersuit demanding $400 million in damages, accusing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds of exploiting their star power to interfere with his project. However, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit last year, complicating the legal battle as both sides prepare for the upcoming trial.
Despite the film’s commercial success—earning $148 million domestically and $350 million worldwide—the controversy surrounding the allegations has overshadowed much of the positive attention the movie received upon release.
Ryan Reynolds and Other Hollywood Figures Drawn Into the Conflict
The ongoing fallout has extended beyond Baldoni and Lively, pulling in Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds and other high-profile figures from the entertainment industry. Recently unsealed text messages revealed Reynolds scolding Baldoni in sharp terms, describing him as a “thoroughbred, predatory fraudster” and an “inexplicably toxic mess.”
In July 2024 exchanges with a WME executive, Reynolds heavily criticized Baldoni’s conduct and credited Lively as the key driver behind the movie’s box office success. The involvement of Reynolds has attracted fan attention, with many labeling an extensive email he sent to It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover as “cringe” and “egotistical.”
In that email, Reynolds mocked Baldoni, writing,
“I heard you guys got a tummy bug and you’re stuck in NY. I can’t think of anything worse. Although it might be your body ridding itself of any residual Baldoni.”
He added,
“I’d rather be puking in a gulag than hijacking performative feminism while practicing personal growth catchphrases in the mirror.”
Celebrity Friends Comment Behind the Scenes
The disputes have ensnared other stars as well. Texts unsealed from Lively to her friend Taylor Swift show her calling Baldoni a “doofus,” while Swift reportedly responded by labeling him a “b***h.” Lively also reached out to Ben Affleck for support during the production tensions and sent messages involving Affleck’s close friend Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso.
Significance and What to Expect Next
This high-profile legal battle between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, amplified by the involvement of well-known figures such as Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, and Ben Affleck, underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding professional and personal dynamics in Hollywood productions. The leaked voice note shedding light on Baldoni’s initial praise adds complexity to the narrative, revealing how quickly the relationship disintegrated amid creative and personal disputes.
As their trial approaches in New York this May, the outcome will not only determine the legal consequences for both parties but could also influence conversations about power, control, and treatment on film sets. The case highlights the challenges actors and directors face balancing artistic visions, egos, and workplace conduct, while public interest and celebrity involvement ensure intense media coverage in the coming months.
