It Ends With Us Emails Reveal Studio Executives Called Justin Baldoni a Moron
As the trial date approaches in the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, a new batch of emails has emerged from official court documents. These communications shed light on the behind-the-scenes tensions during the promotion of the film It Ends With Us.
Studio Executives' Harsh Words in Revealed Emails
According to reports from People magazine, email exchanges between studio executives from the film's production house have been made public. The emails specifically address Justin Baldoni and one of his interviews where he discussed a sensitive scene in the movie.
The messages, sent by marketing executive Danni Maggin, contain strong language about Baldoni's interview conduct. One email stated, "Justin is basically alluding to 'r****g' Atlas out of Lily when talking to the Dallas Morning News. We cut the tape but he is a moron." Another email added that Baldoni "shouldn't do any more press but he has a lot left so maybe we can talk asap."
The Controversial Interview Comments
The scene Baldoni referenced in his interview depicted his character Ryle assaulting Lively's character Lily. In the email chain, Maggin cited what she thought of Baldoni's interpretation: "For me what that scene was more about was Ryle feeling like he had lost all power and feeling so insecure and jealous that the only way in his mind that he could show her how much he loved her was um and I won't say the word that we used in developing it, but what was essentially to force any love she had for Atlas out of her."
Marketing Guidelines Prohibited Negative Talk
The lawsuit filed by Lively also mentioned the film's marketing plan, which allegedly stated that Baldoni had broken promotional rules on multiple occasions. The guidelines explicitly instructed stars to:
- Avoid discussing the film in ways that make it feel sad or heavy
- Emphasize that it's a story of hope rather than domestic violence
- Focus on Lily's strength and resilience instead of darker themes
Justin Baldoni's legal team issued a statement contesting these claims, asserting that the actor-director had consistently maintained his commitment to raising awareness about domestic violence. "Against much resistance from the Film's distributor, Baldoni, from day one, made it clear that he was making this Film to bring awareness to domestic violence and would not refrain from doing so when promoting the Film. He did not 'go rogue,' as Lively alleges," the statement read.
Background of the It Ends With Us Controversy
It Ends With Us was released on August 9, 2024, featuring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar in lead roles. The film is a direct adaptation of Colleen Hoover's popular young adult novel of the same name.
Shortly after the film's release, Lively publicly accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during their collaboration and alleged he had conducted a smear campaign to damage her reputation. The legal case has been ongoing since 2024, with the first official trial scheduled to begin in the coming months.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is based on legal hearing documents as reported by third-party sources. These details represent allegations made by involved parties and are not proven facts. The case remains ongoing without a final verdict, and no claims are made regarding the truth of these allegations.
