‘Set Me Up For A Trap’: Justin Baldoni Reveals Unsealed Texts With Blake Lively

Unsealed court filings from the Baldoni-Lively legal war expose explosive messages; director-star claimed he was being “set up for a trap” by Blake Lively during filming.

January 7, 2026: A fresh wave of unsealed court documents has pulled back the curtain on the toxic atmosphere that allegedly plagued the set of the 2024 blockbuster It Ends With Us.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, private text messages from director and star Justin Baldoni were made public as part of his ongoing legal battle with co-star Blake Lively, revealing a project that was spiraling into chaos long before its release.

The “Trap” and the Body Double Dispute

In a series of messages dated December 30, 2023, sent to his then-agent Danny Greenberg at WME, Baldoni vented about a “really, really bad week” dealing with Lively.

• The Alleged “Trap”: Baldoni claimed Lively, 38, contacted him directly to suggest a private meeting at her home—a move he described to his agent as “setting me up for a trap.”
• Intimacy Battles: Baldoni alleged that Lively “refused” to use a body double for the film’s sex scenes and rejected his storyboards. Paradoxically, he claimed she was pushing for a body double to stand in for him.
• Creative Hijacking: Baldoni described the situation as a “gigantic clusterf—,” complaining that he was giving Lively “95% of what she wants for peace” but was exhausted by an actress who was “rewriting the writer and director.”

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The January “All-Hands” Meeting

The unsealed filings also shed light on a pivotal meeting held on January 4, 2024, just five days after Baldoni’s texts.

• The Attendees: Baldoni, Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and studio executives met to discuss 17 specific safety protections Lively had requested.
• Lively’s Defense: A source close to Lively countered the newly released texts, telling People that Baldoni’s private anger reflected a “retaliatory intent” against safeguards he had publicly called “reasonable.” They argue the messages were sent only after Lively had documented a “hostile work environment” created by Baldoni.

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Witnesses to the Drama: Swift, Jackman, and Reynolds

Perhaps the most sensational detail in the new filings is a description of an April 2023 on-set confrontation.

• The Fat-Shaming Allegation: Court papers allege that Ryan Reynolds tearfully confronted Baldoni over what he perceived as “fat-shaming” of Lively (reportedly regarding her weight during a lifting scene).
• The Star-Studded Audience: Filings claim this heated exchange was witnessed by Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman, who were reportedly visiting the set at the time.

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Legal Standing: May Trial Looms

The legal landscape remains complex as both stars head toward a May 18, 2026 trial date.

Legal Event	Status / Date
Lively’s $160M Lawsuit	Active (Claims: Harassment & Retaliation)
Baldoni’s $400M Countersuit	Dismissed (Finalized Nov 2025)
Mandatory Settlement Talk	February 11, 2026
Next Hearing (Summary Judgment)	January 22, 2026

While Judge Lewis J. Liman has dismissed Baldoni’s defamation countersuits, the director is still fighting to dismiss Lively’s original claims. Baldoni’s legal team maintains that Lively’s accusations are a “massive campaign over minor grievances,” while Lively’s team insists this is a necessary stand for workplace safety.

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