During the post-production phase of It Ends With Us, Blake Lively found herself navigating a turbulent relationship with her co-star, Justin Baldoni. Seeking guidance and support, she contacted several prominent figures in Hollywood, discussing her experiences and requesting feedback on her edits to the film. In a series of emails from 2024, Lively reached out to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, expressing her dissatisfaction with the working environment alongside Baldoni.

Blake Lively wrote Ben Affleck and Matt Damon emails about Justin Baldoni

By December 2024, tensions between Lively and Baldoni escalated to legal actions. Lively initiated a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and allegedly trying to damage her reputation. In retaliation, Baldoni filed a counter-lawsuit, which was later dismissed. The release of unsealed text messages and emails shed light on the fraught dynamic between the two actors during their collaboration.

In her correspondence with Affleck, Lively candidly described her experience on set as “the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. She was seeking his opinion on her version of the film, indicating her struggles with the production.

While it’s uncertain if Affleck ever replied to her email, Lively did engage in a dialogue with Matt Damon, Affleck’s longtime friend. Additionally, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, reached out to Damon and his wife, encouraging them to view Lively’s version of the film. Lively herself also communicated directly with Damon, further emphasizing her quest for support and validation from trusted colleagues in the industry.

While it’s not clear if Affleck responded to the email, Lively did go back and forth with his longtime friend, Matt Damon. Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, asked Damon and his wife to watch Lively’s cut of the film. Lively also reached out to Damon.

“The director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes all one person) had zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste, and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet,” she wrote. “I wish even one of these things was hyperbole.”

Damon told Lively he would help in any way he could. He also encouraged Lively to make her next film with his studio, Artists Equity.

She asked Ben Affleck to show the movie to Jennifer Lopez

In her email, Lively asked Affleck if he would be willing to watch her edit of the film and give any “ideas or notes.” She also said she would appreciate any input from his children or Jennifer Lopez. Affleck and Lopez had not yet divorced at this time.

“If your wife or kids are around, I’d love their opinion also (fyi it does cover domestic violence so no one is caught off guard),” she wrote. “I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s, I’ve told her as much every time I’ve met her, and it would be an honor to have her take.”

She noted that there was “zero pressure” for any of them to watch the movie. Still, she said she would find his input helpful.

Blake Lively’s legal team slammed Justin Baldoni

In response to the unsealed documents, Lively’s team said they look forward to hearing Baldoni’s response. Some of the records include testimony from It Ends With Us stars Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer.

“In his TedTalk to promote his brand as an advocate for women, Justin Baldoni said we must ‘listen to the women’…even if what they are saying is against you,’” they told ABC News in a statement. “See how he actually reacts in the bombshell new evidence released for the first time, which includes sworn testimony and contemporaneous messages from numerous women who actually worked with him.”

The trial is now set to begin on May 18.