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- What the new filings reveal about the outreach to Ben Affleck
- Allegations about leadership and the set culture
- Request for feedback and how she asked for it
- Behind the scenes: edits, a preview and a “bake-off” in the edit room
- Legal context and the path to trial
- Key takeaways from the alleged email, in short
- Responses and next steps
New court filings have put fresh material into the public record, showing alleged emails and texts Blake Lively sent to high-profile figures while her legal fight with Justin Baldoni plays out. The messages, which reportedly include an outreach to Ben Affleck, paint a turbulent picture of the film set and offer a rare window into the behind-the-scenes dispute.
What the new filings reveal about the outreach to Ben Affleck
Court documents obtained by news outlets show an email dated May 17, 2024, from Lively to Affleck. In it, she asks him to watch her film and share any notes. She frames the request as informal and low-pressure.
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- She described the production as deeply upsetting and chaotic.
- She said she had to rework the script and steer the film through conflicts.
- Lively suggested the film’s making-of story would read like a mix of notorious documentary scandals and an infamously bad movie.
Allegations about leadership and the set culture
In the message, Lively criticized the film’s leader, saying he wore many hats on the project — director, actor, producer, funder and studio decision-maker. She also made a stark claim about the group dynamic on set.
- She alleged that many people attached to the production operated like members of a cult.
- She said she was forced to navigate creative choices through that leader’s ego and prior decisions.
- She referenced human resources problems and other internal conflicts.
Request for feedback and how she asked for it
Lively asked Affleck if he could spare time to view the film, noting the runtime and offering easy ways to respond. She emphasized casual feedback and welcomed input from his family.
- She offered to send a private link and said voice memos were fine.
- She warned the film contains material about domestic violence so viewers would not be blindsided.
- She named friends she expected to watch, and framed the invitation as coming from someone exhausted but hopeful for honest notes.
Behind the scenes: edits, a preview and a “bake-off” in the edit room
The email describes an intense post-production dispute. Lively says the other party had controlled the edit for months and that she was given a short window to make her own pass.
- She reported the opposing side had been editing since July.
- She said she was allotted roughly ten days to do her own edit.
- She called the upcoming showdown a “bake off” to determine the final cut.
- She planned a friends-and-family preview in New York before the final edit battle.
Legal context and the path to trial
The exchange comes amid an active lawsuit connected to the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us. Lively sued in 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a campaign to smear her. Baldoni denies the allegations.
- The case has been quiet at times, then resurfaced with these filings.
- A trial date is scheduled for May, according to court notices.
- Both parties have been contacted for comment through media channels.
Key takeaways from the alleged email, in short
- “Zero-pressure” ask: Lively framed the outreach as informal.
- Traumatic set experience: She called the production the most upsetting of her career.
- Multi-role leader: She accused one figure of controlling many aspects of the movie.
- Alleged cult-like environment: She said many team members behaved like adherents to a group.
- Edit-room showdown: She described a looming editorial contest over the final cut.
- Content warning: The film addresses domestic violence, per her note to potential viewers.
Responses and next steps
At the time these documents surfaced, Justin Baldoni had not publicly replied to the claims in the filings. Media outlets say they have reached out to both Baldoni and Lively for statements. The court process will determine what evidence is admissible at trial.
