Blake Lively’s co-star from It Ends With Us, Brandon Sklenar, remained silent when questioned about recently revealed text messages that criticized director Justin Baldoni. During his appearance at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, Sklenar, 35, declined to address the texts despite the growing attention around them. The messages, which were submitted as court evidence in Lively’s ongoing 2024 lawsuit, discuss allegations Lively has made of sexual harassment, retaliation, and emotional distress against Baldoni, accusations he denies. The focus on Blake Lively Justin Baldoni continues to dominate headlines as the legal battle unfolds.
The text exchanges between Lively and Sklenar surfaced amid the lawsuit, unearthing their private conversations about Baldoni’s behavior during filming. They worked together on the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, where Lively played Lily, Baldoni directed and acted as her on-screen partner Ryle, and Sklenar portrayed Lily’s other love interest, Atlas.
Context of the Legal Fallout and Released Messages
These newly publicized texts reveal Sklenar offering support to Lively while casting sharp remarks about Baldoni. Additionally, Sklenar made disparaging comments about his role as Spencer Dutton on the TV series 1923, which he played from 2022 to 2025. The messages detail how Lively and Baldoni had each created different cuts of the film, escalating tensions behind the scenes.
Lively alleges Baldoni entered the editing room to watch her cut unauthorized, sparking further conflict. In one excerpt, Lively calls Baldoni “bats***,” while Sklenar adds that Baldoni is “definitely scrambling” and is
“totally f***ing himself for any future work.”
Lively responds,
“Oh you don’t know the first of it,”
then shares harsher criticisms, claiming she had been protecting the truth to avoid becoming embroiled in scandal and expressing frustration over Baldoni’s actions.
As Lively writes in the texts,
“Yeah the crazy thing is I would’ve continued to let him take credit for everything. He would’ve been handed a career. He would’ve been f***ing on his next job, but he at least would have been a big sucesss [sic].”
She adds that although Baldoni might find future work, “the word is out” and she has tried to keep the matter private to focus on her career.
Tensions on Set and Attempts to Silence Complaints
The messages recount a tense moment on set when Baldoni allegedly leaned toward Sklenar, saying he had something to mention but stopped himself, fearing backlash and stating,
“you can’t say anything on this set anymore.”
Sklenar admits to vaguely recalling this interaction but could not confirm Baldoni’s intended message.
Lively also described Baldoni’s repeated efforts to involve others in his “messiness,” providing her personal observations of his conduct. Sklenar voiced confusion at Baldoni’s poor judgment, especially given his carefully crafted image fueled by TED-style talks, podcasts, and books.
Lively responded that the contrast was clear to her, asserting that Baldoni was “running from something gnarly” despite his polished public persona, a view with which Sklenar agreed, saying, “It does make perfect sense.”
Ryan Reynolds and Celebrity Involvement in the Legal Dispute
The scandal has drawn in several prominent figures, including Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, who has publicly defended his unsealed messages attacking Baldoni. Reynolds called Baldoni a “dumb-dumb” and a “predatory fraudster” in text exchanges.
A representative for Reynolds stated,
“Yes, Ryan got involved — what husband wouldn’t support his wife and the mother of his children?”
and emphasized that Reynolds supports the fight against sexual harassment and retaliation.
“He passionately believes in and will stand up for the basic right to a safe workplace free of harassment and retaliation for his wife and others. Then, now and always.”
According to an insider cited by Puck News, Reynolds is deeply protective of his reputation and experienced significant distress over the situation, especially after reportedly confronting a tearful Baldoni over allegations of fat-shaming Lively in 2023.
Impact of Lawsuit and Financial Stakes
It Ends With Us, the film at the center of the dispute, grossed $148 million domestically and $350 million worldwide. However, the positive reception has been overshadowed by the allegations and court drama involving its stars.
Reynolds sent texts to a WME executive, describing Baldoni as a “thoroughbred, predatory fraudster” and an “inexplicably toxic mess.” In response, a statement from Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman emphasized that the evidence does not support the claims legally, reflecting motions filed by Baldoni’s legal team and comments from Sony regarding Lively’s conduct.
Freedman stated,
“A simple read of the newly released message exchanges make the truth abundantly clear. We remain confident in the legal process and clearing the names of all the Justin Baldoni parties.”
Lively is seeking over $160 million in damages, with her trial scheduled for May 2026 in New York.
Other Celebrities Drawn Into the Feud
The scandal’s reach extends beyond the immediate lawsuit, ensnaring various Hollywood figures. Taylor Swift reportedly called Baldoni a “b***h” in messages to Lively and expressed willingness to support her, declaring, “I’ll do anything for you!” Swift also indicated Baldoni was aware of impending trouble, commenting,
“I think this b**** [Baldoni] knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”
Court papers reveal Lively speaking critically of Baldoni to friends including Matt Damon and his wife Lucy, as well as Ben Affleck, whom she reportedly labeled Baldoni a “chaotic clown.” The ongoing legal battle and public disputes have drawn intense media and public attention, with significant implications for all parties.
What Lies Ahead in the Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Case
This scandal has rocked Hollywood, exposing alleged misconduct on a high-profile film set and prompting allegations from a well-known actress against a respected director. With the involvement of major stars like Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Swift, the lawsuit’s courtroom drama promises to remain a focal point through its scheduled 2026 trial.
As the case progresses, the messages exchanged and testimonies will continue to offer insight into the tensions behind the scenes of It Ends With Us. The final outcomes could not only reshape the careers of those involved but also highlight ongoing conversations about workplace safety and accountability in the entertainment industry.
