Hollywood has a way of making everything look polished, but the unsealed blake and justin texts tell a much messier story. Most people followed the surface-level drama during the It Ends With Us press tour—the separate interviews, the lack of joint photos, and the general chill in the air.
Then the lawsuits hit. And the text messages came out.
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Suddenly, we weren't just looking at a creative "difference of opinion" between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. We were looking at a full-scale legal war involving $160 million claims, accusations of "traps," and bizarre Game of Thrones metaphors.
The "Khaleesi" and the Dragons
One of the weirdest parts of the blake and justin texts involves a message Lively reportedly sent to Baldoni where she compared herself to Daenerys Targaryen.
Honestly, it’s a bit surreal.
According to court filings, after a tense meeting at Lively’s New York penthouse—where Ryan Reynolds and another "mega-celebrity" (widely speculated to be Taylor Swift) were present—Baldoni expressed that the atmosphere "didn't feel great." Lively’s response? She essentially told him that if he’d watched Game of Thrones, he’d understand she was the "Khaleesi" and she had "dragons" to protect her.
Baldoni’s legal team argued this was a clear power move. They claimed it was a way to signal that he wasn't just up against a co-star; he was up against the most influential inner circle in the industry.
The "Trap" and the Intimacy Dispute
By January 2026, new unsealed messages from December 2023 shed light on why things were so toxic on set. Baldoni texted his agent, Danny Greenberg, describing the production as a "gigantic cluster f*ck."
He was specifically stressed about the sex scenes.
Baldoni claimed Lively was "setting me up for a trap" by refusing to use a body double for herself while insisting he use one. He also vented about her rejecting his storyboards and wanting to stay "fully clothed" during a pivotal romantic moment. From his perspective, she was "rewriting the writer and director."
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Lively’s side has a very different take. Her legal team argues that these texts are "retaliatory." They claim the messages were sent only after Lively had raised serious concerns about a hostile work environment. They point to the fact that she had requested 17 specific "protections" for the safety of the cast and crew before filming could even resume.
Behind the PR Curtain
The blake and justin texts also pull back the curtain on how "crisis PR" actually works. When Lively sued Baldoni in late 2024, she included messages between Baldoni and his publicists, Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan.
The contents were pretty jarring:
- A publicist mentioned "reckless thoughts" of planting stories about how horrible Lively was to work with.
- A message stated, "You know we can bury anyone," but cautioned that they shouldn't put a plan to "destroy her" in writing to Baldoni.
- Baldoni reportedly asked for a "TikTok strategy" to focus only on domestic violence topics to frame the narrative.
Baldoni’s defense is that these were private, "scenario planning" conversations. He argues they were monitoring the social media sentiment—which was already turning against Lively—rather than creating it. He even texted his team saying, "It’s organic, she’s blown herself up by her own actions."
Why This Matters for the 2026 Trial
This isn't just celebrity gossip anymore; it's a massive legal precedent. With the trial now set for May 2026, the court has to decide if these texts prove a "smear campaign" or if they are just the ugly reality of a high-stakes production falling apart.
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What’s clear is that the "collaborative" nature of filmmaking broke down completely. You have a director (Baldoni) who felt extorted and pushed out of his own movie, and a lead actress/producer (Lively) who felt she was protecting herself from misconduct.
The nuance is in the timing. Who sent what first? Was the "Khaleesi" text a joke or a threat? Was the "trap" comment a legitimate concern or a way to deflect from workplace complaints?
Actionable Insights for Following the Case
- Check the Dockets: Many of these messages are surfacing because of motions to seal (or unseal) documents. Keep an eye on the Southern District of New York filings.
- Look for Context: Both sides are "cherry-picking" texts. A single message like "we can bury anyone" sounds different when surrounded by 40 other messages about suppressing rumors.
- Understand the Roles: Remember that Lively was an Executive Producer. Her "rewriting" is legally framed as her doing her job, while Baldoni’s team frames it as an illegal "takeover."
Pay attention to the testimony of the "dragons." If people like Ryan Reynolds or Taylor Swift are actually called to the stand in May, these texts will be the primary roadmap for their cross-examination.