Nothing is safe from Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing drama It Ends With Us.
According to Us Weekly, Lively reportedly threw some shade at the hit teen drama that made her famous, Gossip Girl, in a newly released series of text messages with Brandon Skenner.
The May 2024 to August 2024 text series began by highlighting the post-production schedule for It Ends With Us ahead of the film’s August 9, 2024 release.
But as the conversation between Lively and Skenner progressed, they began discussing whether Skenner could balance promoting It Ends with Us and filming the second season of the popular Yellowstone prequel series 1923 at the same time.
“I hope your show gives you the space to hustle,” Lively, 38, wrote in a message allegedly obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday. “The second week is going to be a particularly heated time, especially with ‘It’ coming out. It’s just something to think about and maximize.”
“I’m working on it,” Skenner, 35, added. “They’re particularly tough on that. But I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen. It would be a crime not to jump on board with that momentum.”
After encouraging Skenner to get her agent “on board with it” so she could spend time promoting It Ends with Us, Lively went on to recall that the Gossip Girl team was “kind” in letting her spend time on other projects.
“The show kept me away from all opportunities outside of the show, so I look back now and see how hard it was and how I could have worked harder (with my team) to take the few minutes of space we needed during production to honor the work we did outside of the show,” she wrote in a message purportedly written in May 2024.
Lively starred as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl for all six seasons, from the CW show’s premiere in 2007 to its final episode in 2012.
“They feel like they owe you, so they tend to try to dim your light so you don’t outgrow them,” she continued. “And that’s more counterproductive than they intend. It makes you resent them and want to get out of there.”
“If they create a space for you to do the work you need to do in a way that’s win-win for everyone, you’ll be very appreciative and grateful,” Lively added. “At least that was my experience on the show and all of us.”
Meanwhile, director Skenner said he couldn’t wait to finish filming season 2 of 1923. That’s because “it was only meant to be eight episodes, but as soon as the first eight episodes started, seven more were added.”
“No more shows after this,” the “Housemaid” actor reportedly wrote. “That’s for sure.”
A few hours later, Skenner texted Lively again to let her know that she would be in Texas for three days promoting “It Ends With Us” in August.
“If you go back[to Los Angeles]you can ride with me and my baby,” the “A Simple Favor” star responded.
Representatives for Lively and Skelnar did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Skenner is just the latest celebrity to become embroiled in the ugly legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. The lawsuit dates back to December 2024, when she filed a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign by her Seraph of the End co-star and director.
Jameela Jamil called the “Gossip Girl” alum a “suicide bomber” and “villain” in a 2024 email to a publicist obtained by the Daily Mail Thursday through court documents.
Page Six also obtained text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift, again in 2024, revealing that the “Oparite” hitmaker star felt distanced from Lively as the legal battle intensified.
Swift referred to Baldoni as a “bitch” with a “little violin” in the messages, but sources told Page Six that the pop superstar has not been in contact with Lively since the text exchange.
Meanwhile, Ms. Baldoni denies the charges against her and has filed a $400 million countersuit against Ms. Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. However, a judge dismissed that counterclaim in June 2025.
The case between Lively and Baldoni is scheduled to go to trial on May 18, 2026.
