Jameela Jamil has addressed the harsh leaked texts she sent about Blake Lively, choosing not to apologize but instead to own her words. The messages surfaced in August 2024 as part of ongoing legal proceedings between Lively and Justin Baldoni, revealing Jamil’s blunt reaction to Lively’s promotion of a domestic violence film while marketing haircare and fashion products.
The texts, shared between Jamil and Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, criticized Lively’s campaign, with Abel expressing frustration and Jamil replying sharply, comparing Lively to
“a suicide bomber at this point.”
This exchange sheds light on a tense side of public discourse surrounding the film and Lively’s public statements on domestic violence survivors.
Details of the Leaked Texts Reveal Harsh Criticism and Shared Disdain
The messages grew increasingly caustic as Jamil and Abel discussed Lively’s social media posts. When Lively posted a link for domestic violence survivors alongside a statement emphasizing her character’s resilience, Abel asked Jamil if she had seen it, to which Jamil replied “dead” and called the gesture “so cold.”
Jamil labeled Lively’s behavior “bizarre” and “over,” with both women agreeing on a strong dislike for Lively. A source close to the situation later criticized these remarks as “disappointing,” noting,
“Instead of listening to women when they speak out, other women call them names.”
— Source close to the situation
Jamil Clarifies Her Position on Feminism and Female Relationships
Facing significant online backlash after the texts became public, Jamil took to Instagram Stories to clarify her views on feminism. She emphasized that feminism is fundamentally about fighting for equity for all women, but made clear that this does not require liking every woman personally. She stated,
Image of: Jameela Jamil
“It doesn’t mean you have to be friends with every single woman.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil went further to explain that disagreements among women are not incompatible with feminist principles, asserting,
“You can actually beef with other women.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil Explains the Context Behind Her Leaked Comments in an Essay
In a Substack essay titled
“So, my private texts were leaked to the world…,”
Jamil addressed the vitriol of her messages, explaining that they stemmed from anger she felt on behalf of a friend and publicist she felt was being mistreated. She rejected the idea of crafting a sanitized public image, writing,
“I don’t want to carefully craft my output to have an avatar of myself liked. I want to be liked and loathed for my true self.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil described her private messages as coming from her “Itty Bitty Shitty Committee,” a safe emotional space where being shallow, petty, and mean in private is allowed without judgment. She considered this a “victimless crime” and said she fully supports her friend, likening their loyalty to that of iconic friends,
“Thelma to her Louise. I will hold her hand all the way off the cliff.”
— Jameela Jamil
She also embraced a protective stance, calling herself the kind of friend who
“holds a grudge for 20 years.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil introduced the term “fempathy” to describe a uniquely female experience of fierce loyalty among women, saying,
“we ride at dawn for each other.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil Condemns the Breach of Privacy and Timing of the Text Leak
Despite her bluntness, Jamil expressed strong disapproval of the invasion of her privacy when her unredacted texts were leaked. Calling the release “gross” and “disturbing,” she reiterated her discomfort on TikTok, stating,
“I think it’s really weird that my private text messages from 18 months ago have suddenly been released now. My name has deliberately been un-redacted to cause as much trouble as possible for me even though these text messages have nothing to do with the case.”
— Jameela Jamil
Jamil also pointed out that these texts predate Blake Lively’s December 2024 sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni by several months, clarifying that the messages were not connected to the legal claims but were focused on what she saw as a “diabolical press tour” for Lively’s film, which she described as “that disappointing movie.”
Ongoing Legal Disputes Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Meanwhile, Blake Lively’s legal battle against Justin Baldoni continues to unfold in U.S. courts. It includes allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation, which Baldoni denies. His $400 million countersuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds, alongside a separate defamation case against The New York Times, were dismissed in 2025. Neither Lively, Reynolds, nor Baldoni have publicly commented on the leaked texts involving Jamil.
Available Support for Those Affected by Domestic Violence
If you or someone you know is in need of immediate support relating to domestic violence or emotional distress, help is available. Emergency assistance can be reached by calling 000. Lifeline offers support via phone at 13 11 14 or through online chat.
Younger individuals under 25 can contact the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online. For those seeking help regarding domestic violence specifically, including assistance in leaving violent relationships, 1800 RESPECT is available at 1800 737 732 or online.
