Justin Baldoni complimented his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively as “beautiful” in a recently leaked voice note tied to their ongoing legal dispute. The recording, which surfaced in early 2025, reveals Baldoni praising Lively after she shared costume photos for her character, Lily Bloom, from early 2023, highlighting the Blake Lively beautiful voice note that circulated publicly.
Director Praises Actress in Early 2023 Voice Message
The leaked audio, obtained by TMZ, captures Baldoni addressing Lively with warmth and encouragement during the production phase. He expressed gratitude for the pictures she sent, saying,
“Hey Blake, I hope the fitting was super successful,”
and,
“Thank you for sending those pictures, it was really cool.”
In the same recording, the 42-year-old director added,
“I was in the department head meeting, and they came through, and I was waiting for them to load, and I legit got the chills when I saw it.”
He concluded with,
“You look beautiful. It’s going to work so well.”
These remarks portray a cordial and supportive professional relationship at that time.
Private Exchanges Reveal Underlying Friendship Between Co-Stars
Just days before this leak, another private message from Blake Lively, 38, was made public. In that message, the actress referred to Baldoni as a “friend,” indicating a level of trust between them during the filming schedule of It Ends With Us and her other project, Proxy.
According to People, Lively shared that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, encouraged her to communicate openly with Baldoni about her concerns. She highlighted she spoke to him
“as a friend more than anything”
about juggling work commitments soon after giving birth to her son, Olin, in February 2023.
Lively also emphasized that she did not
“talk to [that director] like [she] talk[s] to”
Baldoni and hoped he would be accommodating of her needs during filming. Her work on Proxy ran from March to May 2023, followed by filming It Ends With Us from May to June. Production for the latter resumed in January 2024 after the writer’s strike delay.
Legal Battle Emerges Following Film Release and Sparks Media Attention
Despite the apparent friendly communications earlier in 2023, once It Ends With Us premiered in August 2024, tensions between Baldoni and Lively became public. Rumors of conflict escalated, culminating in Lively filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024. Baldoni strongly denied the allegations and countersued in January 2025, although his countersuit was later dismissed.
The prolonged legal dispute has drawn extensive media coverage, especially as additional unsealed messages showed involvement or references to several high-profile figures such as Taylor Swift and Ben Affleck. Both actors are scheduled to confront their accusations and disputes in court on May 18, 2026.
Implications of the Conflict Within Hollywood Circles
The leaked voice note and messages shed light on a once collegial connection now overshadowed by serious allegations, reflecting the complexities often seen behind the scenes in Hollywood productions. With such prominent figures involved, the case does not only affect the reputations of Baldoni and Lively but also spotlights the ongoing issues surrounding workplace conduct in the entertainment industry.
This situation underscores how relationships between actors and directors can swiftly evolve, affecting multiple facets of their personal and professional lives. As the legal proceedings advance toward the 2026 court date, industry observers and fans alike await the resolution of what has become a high-profile and tense battle.
