The legal battle betweenIt Ends With Us director and star Justin Baldoni and leading lady Blake Lively is getting messier — and now their friends and costars are getting involved.
Recently unsealed texts sent from Jenny Slate reveal the actress was open about her disdain for the director when speaking to her team. Slate starred as the sister of Baldoni’s character.
The texts were shared along with other documents ahead of a summary judgment in Lively’s case against Baldoni, which was filed back in December 2024. Lively alleged sexual harassment and retaliation.
Per People, Slate’s messages are from June 2023. While discussing publicity rounds for the movie, Slate insisted, “[I] don’t want to do anything with Justin, [I] don’t want to talk about him, like … nothing. And the same goes for Jamey [Heath], who is truly unprofessional.” She also described the experience of filming the movie as “really gross” and added, “I’m one of many who feel [this] way.”
In another text Slate directly called out Baldoni’s presentation as a feminist ally. “Justin is truly a false ally and I’m unwilling to do anything that promotes the image that he’s crafting as a ‘male feminist’ … like … honestly i have no words to describe what a fraud he is,” she wrote. Another message read, “I honestly have never ever encountered anything like this dude.”
She continued: “He’s the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist. Lots of lessons learned!”
Blake Lively Sued Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment in December 2024
Lively initially filed a complaint with the state of California against Baldoni on December 20, 2024, alleging “emotional distress” and accusing Baldoni and others involved in the production of the film of sexual harassment. She later filed a lawsuit against the director at the end of the month. The pair is set to appear in court on March 9, 2026.
Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively that was ultimately dismissed in June 2025. Lively’s lawyers Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson described Baldoni’s lawsuit as a “profound abuse of the legal process that has no place in federal court.”
They also insisted, “This meritless and retaliatory lawsuit runs head first into three legal obstacles, including the litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment privileges, the latter of which contains a mandatory fee shifting provision that will require the likes of billionaire Steve Sarowitz, Wayfarer Studios, and others that brought frivolous defamation claims against Ms. Lively to pay damages.”
Baldoni asked a judge to dismiss Lively’s case in November 2025, and that request was not granted.
