Justin Baldoni is heard apologising to Blake Lively in an alleged voice note sent during the production of It Ends With Us.

The director and actor, 41, was said to have questioned changes Lively made to a rooftop scene, where the characters meet initially meet.

This was reportedly months before the pair filed lawsuits against one another.

Across the two lawsuits, Lively claimed he sexually harassed her on set and then issued a smear campaign after she spoke up.

Baldoni has denied the allegations and has countersued with a £326 million lawsuit for damages, including defamation and lost future income.

Justin Baldoni’s alleged voice notes

In his lawsuit, Baldoni claims he was forced to accept a revised version of the rooftop scene allegedly written by Lively, who later said it was written by her husband Ryan Reynolds, also named in the suit.

This was reportedly due to the fact that Lively is good friends with Taylor Swift, whose song was used in the scene, and he didn’t want to upset her.

“I want to start with an apology. Reading the second part of your message. My heart sank and I’m really sorry. I for sure fell short,” the director allegedly said in the April 2023 voice note at 2am.

“I just wanted to say thank you for sharing that with me.

“That takes a lot of trust and vulnerability. And I just I feel really grateful that you feel safe enough to tell me that that’s how you feel and share that with me.”

The alleged voice note from April 2023 sees Justin Baldoni apologise to Blake Lively (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

He allegedly continued to apologise, calling it ‘a fail on my part’.

“One thing you should know about me is I will admit and apologise when I fail. I am far from perfect. I am a very flawed man. As my wife will attest,” Baldoni allegedly added.

“I’m going to f**k up. I’m going say the wrong thing. I’m going to put my foot in my mouth. I’m going to p**s you off, probably. But I will always apologise and then find my way back to centre. That is one thing I can assure you of.”

Addressing Lively’s supposed response to Baldoni’s reaction when he saw the rewrites, he allegedly said: “I’m sorry I made you feel that way.

“That must have felt terrible. And I will for sure do better. That was not my best weekend. And I should have given it more time.”

“Aside from the fact that the two of the most creative people on the planet, the three of you guys together, it’s unbelievable. Talk about energy force, all three of you,” Baldoni supposedly said, a nod to her husband and Swift.

“You and I have been trying to build a relationship which I think we’ve done successfully. Here we are talking together at 2am in the morning. But largely via text and voicemail and I will admit, that’s not my biggest strength.”

The voice note then goes on, hearing Baldoni allegedly add: “I love being with people and being in somebody’s space and being face-to-face and I think that’s where I excel. But I’ve definitely fallen short at times in our texts and voicemail exchanges because there’s so much to communicate and so much happening.

“All I have to say is I’m really looking forward to spending time together and I believe that’s going to go a long way for our chemistry, which I believe is there. It’s been there from the start so I was so damn excited when you agreed to do this film. I believe it comes from us both being so hard working and having a vision.

“I’m excited to have a creative partner in that with you.”

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits explained

Justin Baldoni is heard apologising to Blake Lively in an alleged voice note sent during the production of It Ends With Us (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Lively filed her first lawsuit against Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, and others in December 2024, claiming he sexually harassed her on set and then issued a smear campaign after she spoke up.

Earlier this month, she filed a second lawsuit alleging Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behaviour, which included a scene where their characters performed a slow dance.

Footage of the scene has since been made available to the public, which can be viewed above.

The It Ends with Us director and actor has countersued Lively and her husband Reynolds for £326 million.

Baldoni has accused Lively and her husband of hijacking the production and promotion of the film.

“This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio,” the suit says.

“Then, when Lively and Reynolds’ efforts failed to win them the acclaim they believed they so richly deserved, they turned their fury on their chosen scapegoat.”

Damages include control and extortion, defamation and false allegations, marketing conflicts, professional and personal damages, collaborative breakdown and false narrative and media manipulation.

When will Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit go to trial?

Judge Lewis J. Liman has said the trial will take place on 9 March, 2026, as reported by People.

A set pre-trial hearing regarding Lively’s prospective request for a gag order has been brought forward, scheduled for 3 February.

Will Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s trial be on TV?

LA attorney Gregory Doll, who is not involved in the case, predicts that the trial will not be televised.

“By filing in federal court, they foreclosed the possibility that there will be any cameras in the proceedings,” the partner at Doll Amir & Eley, told People.

Alleged leaked Justin Baldoni voice note in full

“Hey, Blake. It is two in the morning. Hopefully this does not wake you up. Wow, there’s so much I want to say to you, and I hope that we can FaceTime or see each other in person soon and get to talk more, but I’m just going to send you a few thoughts, and hopefully it’s not going to be more than a few minutes, but that I don’t have the best track record. I don’t think either one of us have the best track record for voice memos

“I want to start with an apology. Man, I… reading the second part of your message, my heart sank, and I’m really sorry. I for sure fell short, and you worked really hard on that, and the way you framed it, and how that made you feel. I just want to say thank you for sharing that with me. That takes a lot of trust and vulnerability. And I just, I feel really grateful that you feel safe enough to tell me that that’s how you feel and share that with me and I’m really sorry.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on the set of ‘It Ends with Us’ (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

“I f**ked up, that is a fail on my part. One thing you should know about me is I will admit and apologise when I fail. I am far from perfect. I’m a very flawed man, as my wife will attest and and I’m gonna f**k up, I’m gonna say the wrong thing, I’m gonna put my foot in my mouth. I’m gonna piss you off, probably, but I will always apologise and then find my way back to centre. That is one thing I can assure you of, and I’m sorry I made you feel that way. That must have felt terrible, and I will, for sure, do better. That was not my best weekend, and I should have given it more time.

“And damn, right, you got great friends, if that’s how you felt, and they knew that. And we should all have friends like that, aside from the fact that they’re two of the most creative people on the planet. The three of you guys together. It’s unbelievable. Talk about energy, just to force of all three of you.

“But I just wanted you to know that I didn’t need that, because it’s really good and it’s gonna make the movie sing, like you said, and I’m excited to go through the whole movie with you. I’m just excited to spend time with you. I’m excited to be in your sphere and your presence, and for us to share creative juices together. Although that sounds terrible.

“I think you and I have been trying to build a relationship, which I think we’ve done successfully. I mean, here we are talking like this, me into my phone at two in the morning, but largely via text and voice note. I will be honest with you, that is not my biggest strength. I love being with people and being in somebody’s space and being face-to-face, and I feel like that’s where I excel, and definitely fallen short at times in our text and voice note exchanges, because there’s so much to communicate and there’s so much happening.

Justin Baldoni seen filming ‘It Ends With Us’ in New Jersey (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

“All that’s to say, I’m just really looking forward to spending time together, and I think that’s going to really go a long way for our chemistry, which I believe is there and has been there from the start. So I was so damn excited when you wanted to do this film. I felt it in the room when we met. Yeah, I think it does come from the both of us being so f**king hard working and having a vision and not settling. And I’m excited to have a creative partner in that with you. And it’s just really exciting.

“There’s so much more to say. There’s so much I want to say. Oh, and there’s one thing that I do need to say, which is, I am so sorry you have been through what you’ve been through with these other filmmakers and producers or whoever the people were that you worked with. It just pissed me off. I’m just still kind of blown away, that this is the industry that we’re in, that you’ve experienced that as a woman. I know I don’t need to say it, but that’s not at all going to be or will be… hopefully it’s not been the experience with me.

“There’s nothing more exciting to me. I get to work with Blake Lively and have her, all of her, that’s what I want. And so there’s been no hesitancy with me sending you the final draft file. I am totally fine with that. The only reason I didn’t send it today was because I was trying to implement and add your notes into my working draft, which is already like, I’m all over that draft right now.

“So there’s a whole bunch of new stars that are going to be collated pages. I just haven’t had a chance to send it to you, but there’s no hesitancy. I’m happy to send it to you and I’m sorry that that has happened to you before and, and I hope after this experience, there will be a new… I hope it’ll be healing in some way. That’s all I want. I want this movie to be healing. I want this movie to be commercial just like you, and affect people and touch people. And I want to walk you through my whole plan and the work that we’re doing with the domestic violence partner that we found NO MORE and just my vision, and I just, I just know that this can be really, really special, and it’s going to be special, and you’re the secret sauce, and we’re the secret sauce.

“Anyways, I have so much more to say. I’m going to stop rambling, because, Jesus Christ, it’s been six minutes and 30 seconds. I’m sorry, you probably have kids all over you and a baby on your boob, and you’re listening to me ramble at two in the morning. I hope you’re feeling better and give Ryan my love thank you for sending me that, means the world to me, that you trust me with your feelings and your thoughts like that, and I can’t wait to spend more time with you. Okay, I’m done cutting myself off. Good night.”

The Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal saga continues.

Over the weekend, Baldoni launched a website titled ‘Lawsuit Info’, which includes a number of previously unseen texts as part of a 168-page document that sets out the timeline of events before and after filming It Ends with Us.

Some of the texts in the document were allegedly exchanged between the actor and Lively, who has sued him for sexual harassment, along with husband Ryan Reynolds.

The document on the site shows an updated version of Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against the couple and publicist Leslie Sloan.

Lively and Reynolds last week asked a judge to dismiss Baldoni’s £320 million countersuit, as attorneys for both parties are scheduled to make their first appearance in court today (3 February).

What information is on Baldoni’s website?

The website includes alleged messages from Reynolds before their feud, as well as nine text messages that Baldoni’s team say claim his innocence.

It also includes a ‘timeline of relevant events’, which leak more text messages allegedly sent between Baldoni and Lively.

There are allegations included in the document, such as discussions between Baldoni and Lively to change the crucial rooftop scene between their characters, among allegations that Lively and Reynolds demanded Baldoni publicly take responsibility for negative press against the former.

The document also included a statement allegedly written for Baldoni, which partly read: “It Ends With Us was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, the entire cast and crew led with professionalism every step of the way, any negativity aimed at them is ours to own.

“We have always said we are not perfect and even if [we] unintentionally make mistakes, we always own them.”

But there were also a number of bombshell texts, mostly running through April 2023, between the co-stars.

1 April 2023 – “What a great assembly of people”

According to the document, Lively messaged Baldoni after carrying out ‘chemistry reads’ with potential actors to play her love interest Atlas, with the actress sending a lengthy text to Baldoni at the end of the day, noting that it was ‘fun’.

Part of it allegedly from Lively read: “It was lovely. Each of those men were so kind and giving their best I was rooting for each of them, And it was nice to feel what a safe, open, soulful and encouraging room you create for your actors. Excited to do it all for real soon! :)”

Baldoni ‘love’ reacted to the message.

5 April 2023 – “Just hired intimacy coordinator”

Baldoni allegedly text Lively: “Just hired intimacy coordinator who I LOVE. Will set you up to meet/FT with her next week for intro” (thumbs up)

According to the document, Lively responded: “I feel good. I can meet her when we start 🙂 thank you though!”

This alleged exchange was included to counter claims from Lively that Baldoni would ‘improvise’ intimacy on set.

Lively seems to reject a meeting with the coordinator before filming begins.

A lengthy exchange between Lively and Baldoni about the rooftop scene (Lawsuit Info)

7-8 April “It’s my love language. Spicy and playfully bold, never with teeth”

In one of Lively’s alleged messages to Baldoni, she explained that he would get to know the character’s ‘ball busting’, adding that it would be ‘flirty and yummy’.

The message highlighted that it’s her love language, and that it would be ‘spicy and playfully bold’, as Baldoni responded by opening up about the importance of the character falling in love.

14 April 2023 – “I appreciate being able to communicate openly always”

Lively allegedly messaged Baldoni after they had discussed some changes to the script, adding that she was ‘looking forward to catching up in person’.

This allegedly came two days after Reynolds and Lively’s ‘mega celebrity friend’ unexpectedly attended a meeting and praised Lively’s script changes, which Baldoni claims made him feel backed into a corner.

She allegedly wrote: “I’ll freak you out, spook you, upset you, and be an actual beast. But I can promise it will always be in service of this movie and our shared goal.

“But will also always apologise. I appreciate being able to communicate openly always.”

The actors have been embroiled in a legal battle (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Lively’s team’s response to the website

Lively’s attorney Michael Gottlieb told the Daily Mail the website was created to ‘influence proceedings and the public perception’ of the case with ‘inflammatory content’.

He said: “He further has made it clear that his priority is to ‘torpedo Blake Lively’s career for good’ by, among other things, creating a website to release strategically selected documents and communications between Ms. Lively and Mr. Baldoni.

“The planned website will release what Mr. Freedman self-servingly proclaims will be ‘full unedited WhatsApp, text and email exchanges between Lively and Baldoni’, although neither the media nor public will have any way of knowing which communications Mr. Freedman has selectively omitted from disclosure, including communications that Mr. Freedman and his clients may have deleted.”

Lively’s attorney claimed that the documents posted to the website would be ‘incomplete, biased, and prejudicial by design’.

Lively and Baldoni will go to trial on 9 March, 2026.

LADbible has previously reached out to Lively and Baldoni’s representatives for comment.

Justin Baldoni has continued his public feud with his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively by releasing a list of texts he claims she ‘excluded’ from her lawsuit against him.

In 2024, Lively filed her initial lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a ‘social manipulation’ campaign against her, with the director issuing a follow-up lawsuit against the actor, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and a publicist in January for a number of grievances, including defamation.

Following this, Baldoni has released raw footage of a scene from the film, as well as nine text messages which he claims ‘proves’ he’s been defamed in a ‘smear campaign’.

The pair starred in the domestic violence-focused romantic drama It Ends With us together (Jose Perez via Getty Images)

Both Lively and Baldoni’s legal teams have denied the accusations made in both lawsuits, with Baldoni’s team calling the initial allegations from the Gossip Girl star ‘categorically false’, while Lively’s team called it ‘another chapter in the abuser’s playbook’.

In response to the leaked footage, her legal reps claimed they believe ‘every frame of the released footage corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described in Paragraph 48 of her Complaint’.

And yesterday (3 February), both teams made their appearance in court for a pretrial meeting, with the trial’s official date to be on 9 March, 2026.

In the latest update prior to yesterday’s court date however, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, released a website titled ‘TheLawsuitInfo’, in which it included a detailed 126 page timeline of ‘relevant events’ including numerous leaked text messages.

Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb told The Daily Mail the website was created to ‘influence proceedings and the public perception’ of the case with ‘inflammatory content’.

Amongst these is a series of text exchanges which Baldoni accuses Lively of taking out of context in her civil complaint against him.

“The truth is your defence”

One text exchange shown reveals Justin Baldoni and his PR team, specifically a PR manager named Jennifer Abel, discussing a ‘document’ he has been sent about Blake Lively, which was labelled ‘scenario planning’.

This includes Baldoni saying he is ‘not in love with the document they sent’ and is ‘not sure [he’s] feeling the protection [he] felt on the call.’

Lively’s version of the text exchange in her complaint (New York Times)

Baldoni eventually says he feels ‘like there is not much defense and also them feeling strong like she’s going to do something just a bit concerning what everyone had originally thought’.

Screenshots from Baldoni then allege the next message from Abel was cut off in this exchange.

The next message reads: “The truth is your defence. You have done nothing wrong and there is over a year worth of facts and paper trails and people who can go on background as your defence.

“This document is an overview… we need to prepare as if she will also go through any great lengths with press.” Baldoni responds to the long message with a heart and queries whether a lawyer has been hired.

Baldoni’s version of the text messages (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

“He wants to feel like she can be buried”

Another text exchange occurs between Jennifer Abel, who deals with Baldoni’s PR, and his longtime publicist Melissa Nathan.

This includes the line ‘he wants to feel like she can be buried’, and Nathan texting ‘we can’t write it down to him, we can’t write we will destroy her, we will go to this, we will do this’.

Baldoni alleges that Lively’s complaint cuts out the following message in the exchange, as well as several others viewable below (though hard to make out the exact words of).

One message he alleges was cut, in response to ‘we can’t write we will destroy her, is: “Of course not. But I told him that’s the point of talking through.”

The texts between Nathan and Abel included in Lively’s lawsuit (The New York Times)

Another text, discussing the document, discusses how Baldoni has to ‘look at it as an information document for us to be armed with… imagine if a document saying all the things that he wants ends up in the wrong hands’.

Baldoni again alleges that the complaint cuts out the message sent directly after, saying: “The work is not the document. The work is the f**king crisis lol.”

Finally, Lively’s complaint includes Melissa Nathan saying “you know we can bury anyone but I can’t write that to him, I will, I’ll be very tough.”

What Baldoni claims it excludes, however, is what that message is responding to, Abel saying: “If it’s any consolation he’s like this with everything. Over thinks. Stresses. High anxiety. He just needs to be educated on how this process works.”

Baldoni claims that numerous critical messages were cut out to omit context (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

“Doesn’t matter if it’s not true”

The next section to mention alleged excluded text messages focuses on a discussion between Abel and Nathan again.

In Lively’s complaint, it is perhaps the most damning of all the text messages included, alleging it proves that Baldoni’s team planted fake stories to damage Lively’s reputation.

This includes a message in which they reference ‘limited pick up on Daily Mail or Page Six’.

This is followed by a series of messages, such as ‘the majority of socials are so pro Justin and I don’t even agree with half of them lol’, and ‘he doesn’t realise how lucky he is right now we need to press on just how f**king lucky.’

Baldoni claims that Lively’s version of events are heavily altered (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

Finally, another message from Lively’s complaint is Melissa Nathan saying: “The whispering in the area the sexual connotations like Jesus f**king Christ.

“Other members feeling uncomfortable watching it I mean there is just so much.”

Baldoni, however, alleges this whole exchange is them simply ‘monitoring’ chatter about the situation.

He includes over 40 messages he alleges came between the first and second messages from Lively’s complaint, many of which include Nathan and Abel trying to surpress any stories coming out about the situation whatever.

He further alleges that the message immediately after the one in which they discuss ‘sexual connotations’ is one that says ‘doesn’t matter if it’s not true’ about Lively’s complaints, with Abel responding: “I know I don’t think they get that, they think the truth wins.”

Baldoni claims this exchange was taken out of valuable context (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

“Is Blake Lively set to be CANCELLED?”

The final set of messages which Baldoni claims Lively omitted to remove context centred around a Daily Mail article titled “Is Blake Lively set to be CANCELLED?”

This article revealed an old interview with Kjersti Flaa, a journalist who’d come out to reveal a ‘bad’ experience with Lively during an interview in 2016.

In addition, the piece sums up a common criticism that the film’s PR and marketing strategy was not focusing on the domestic violence topic present in the movie.

Baldoni once again alleges context was taken out which he believes proves it was sarcastic (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

In Blake Lively’s complaint, the article is sent, with Abel responding: “Wow, you really outdid yourself with this piece,” to which Nathan responded saying: “That’s why you hired me right? I’m the best.”

In Baldoni’s claimed version of events, this omitted a screenshot in which Nathan said to a reporter: “Damm this is unfair because it’s also not me. Everything now looks like it’s me. Maybe not to you.”

The reporter responded saying: “No it totally does look like his side!”

In addition, they claim an upside-down smiley face emoji (often known to be used to convey sarcasm) was omitted after Abel says ‘you really outdid yourself with this piece’.

Baldoni is shown allegedly questioning whether his team is behind a negative Blake Lively article (Bryan Freedman via TheLawsuitInfo)

They claim the entire exchange was sarcastic, going on to show texts of Baldoni asking for confirmation that his team were not behind the stories, saying in one message: “It’s organic she’s blown herself up by her own actions.”

The trial will continue, with the judge presiding over matters claiming he would be forced to move matters forward if it continued to be ‘litigated in the press’.

Representatives for Blake Lively did not respond to a request for comment by the LADbible Group.

Blake Lively’s legal team has reportedly requested a gag order against Justin Baldoni’s lawyers in the latest developments of the celeb feud.

The It Ends With Us co-stars have been at loggerheads since late December, when the first of many lawsuits was filed by the 37-year-old actress.

Baldoni hit back with a lawsuit of his own and as a result of their court battle, a string of text messages have been made public by both sides to support their respective claims.

In another dramatic development, the Jane the Virgin star decided to release ‘damning’ footage of him and Lively on the set of the film that was inspired by Colleen Hoover’s novel.

Each party believes that the behind-the-scenes clip backs up the claims in their lawsuits, with Lively’s team saying ‘every frame corroborates, to the letter, what Ms. Lively described’.

On the other hand, Baldoni’s camp have claimed the video of the duo – showing them shooting a slow dance scene – ‘clearly refutes Ms. Lively’s characterisation of his behaviour’.

Lively and Reynold’s lawyers have called on the judge to implement a gag order (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Now, it appears as though the Gossip Girl actress wants to stop their feud playing out so publicly, as she and her husband Ryan Reynolds have asked a judge to impose a gag order on Baldoni’s legal counsel.

Lawyers for the Hollywood couple have issued a letter to judge Lewis J. Liman requesting that he orders Baldoni’s team, which is led by Bryan Freedman, to put a sock in it.

The documents claimed that Freedman has ‘given television interviews, appeared on podcasts, issued inflammatory written statements, and leaked information to the Hollywood press and tabloid media’.

It alleged that the Los Angeles-based litigator has been publicly addressing the case ‘virtually every day’ since Lively filed her first legal complaint on 21 December, according to E! News.

Lively and Reynold’s attorneys claim that Freedman has made false statements about the couple and that he has launched a ‘harassing and retaliatory media campaign’ against the stars.

The pair accused Baldoni’s lawyers, particularly Bryan Freedman, of ‘improper conduct’ (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Lively’s lawyers asked the judge to issue a protective order to stop Freedman and Co’s ‘improper conduct’, which they allege ‘might prejudice the jury’ – while making reference to the footage released earlier this week.

The letter states: “As Ms. Lively’s counsel have attempted, repeatedly, to caution Mr. Freedman, federal litigation must be conducted in court and according to the relevant rules of professional conduct.

“His conduct threatens to, and will, materially prejudice both the Lively Case and the Wayfarer Case by tainting the jury pool, because his statements are deliberately aimed at undermining the ‘character, credibility, [and] reputation’ of numerous relevant parties.”

Lively’s legal team said Baldoni’s camp ‘not only continue the campaign of retaliation that was the subject of Ms. Lively’s First Cease and Desist, but they contain numerous new false statements about Ms. Lively and others’.

The letter also pointed out that Lively has previously sent Freedman and Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios a cease and desist amid the ongoing It Ends With Us row.

LADbible have previously contacted Lively’s, Reynold’s, and Baldoni’s representatives for comment.