Justin Baldoni claims Blake Lively set him up for a trap

JUSTIN Baldoni claimed that he was being set up by It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively in new unsealed text messages as their legal battle rumbles on. 

The messages, disclosed through a motion by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME), reveal Baldoni's concerns about Lively’s influence on the film's creation - especially regarding to the sex scenes in the movie.

On 30 December 2023, Baldoni expressed to his former agent Danny Greenberg that he was having a "really, really bad week," citing a creative conflict with Lively was stressing him out.

Among the tensions was Lively's insistence on shooting intimate scenes without a body double. 

According to Baldoni, the scene required ‘skin’ and contradicted the source material in Colleen Hoover’s original book. 

“That’s just setting me up for a trap,” said Baldoni, who added that Lively had asked for him to use a body double for the scenes instead.

Baldoni described Lively's push for both leads to remain clothed during pivotal scenes as “ridiculous”.

Baldoni called the experience as a "gigantic clusterf***," indicating he was prepared to concede to 95 percent of Lively’s demands in an effort to maintain harmony on set. 

These complaints were reportedly a precursor to a significant meeting with Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and studio executives, where Lively presented 17 demands regarding the production.

As tensions escalated, allegations were made against Baldoni, including a lawsuit from Lively in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and emotional distress. 

Both parties deny the allegations, and current proceedings are set to resume in January 2024.

Despite being a box-office hit, the film’s acclaim has been overshadowed by the partners’ legal quarrels and public disputes.