Justin Baldoni accused Blake Rikley of “setting me in a trap” by refusing to use a body double for a sex scene in It Ends with Us, according to text messages recently released amid an ongoing legal battle.
“She rejected the body double,” Baldoni wrote in a private text exchange with former William Morris Endeavor agent Danny Greenberg on Dec. 30, 2023, according to legal documents obtained by Page Six.
He claimed that this move was “just trapping me”, adding that Baldoni insisted on using Kagemusha for their scenes.
Baldoni explained to his agent that he had a “really bad week” when he explained that Lively had shut down the idea of a sex scene in the film and suggested that the stars “keep each other’s clothes on for the big love scene,” which he claimed was “ridiculous knowing the book.”
“It’s all just one big lump, but I’m still trying my best to stay positive, although it’s very draining and time-consuming to deal with actresses rewriting screenwriters and directors during this break,” he complained.
The Jane the Virgin alum, 41, claimed he gave in to “95%” of her demands “in the interest of peace” but called the ordeal a “brutal experience”.
Baldoni confirmed in an update that he planned to meet Lively, 38, at her home to review the edits, but she insisted the meeting “needs to take place there.”
Baldoni also claimed that the Gossip Girl alum objected to Wayfarer Productions CEO Jamie Heath being on set, but Baldoni clarified that he was “fighting back.”
“I’m trying my best to stay positive and give her as many wins as possible to end this thing, but at some point it’s going to get tough,” he wrote, adding that Lively is “ruining her reputation.”
“Where we need the most help is in editing, because I’m not going to get everything she wants and I expect that to be a big problem,” he told Greenberg.
Representatives for Lively and Baldoni did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
However, a source close to Lively told Page Six, “These messages were sent after Blake detailed numerous ways Baldoni and Heath created a hostile work environment on set, agreed to more than a dozen ‘protections’ for the safety of cast and crew, and days before a January 4 meeting to discuss these protections before filming resumed.”
“This text chain highlights Baldoni’s retaliatory intentions,” the source continued. “This reflects his personal anger at the same safeguards that he described in public as ‘reasonable’ and ‘essential’ and later acknowledged in a deposition as reasonable, including his resentment at having to attend an ‘all hands on deck’ meeting to which he also consented.”
As we previously reported, one of the major issues that led to Lively and Baldoni’s extraordinary feud was a creative disagreement on the “It Ends With Us” set.
Baldoni directed, starred in, and produced the film through his Wayfarer Productions, while Lively also received a producer credit on the film, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s book of the same name.
A source told The Hollywood Reporter at the time that Lively had asked Shane Reid, the editor who worked on Deadpool and Wolverine with her husband Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, to do an alternate cut of the film.
“A rift arose between the filmmakers during the post-production process, resulting in two different cuts of the film,” the newspaper reported.
A source appeared to confirm the outlet’s report in August 2024, exclusively telling Page Six that Lively had given final approval for the film.
“There were two edits, and the studio edited it to look more feminine,” a source said.
Baldoni also reportedly made Lively feel “uncomfortable” on set, creating a “very difficult” atmosphere for the entire cast.
Lively filed a formal lawsuit against the director in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages.
Mr. Baldoni fired back with a $400 million countersuit against Ms. Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. However, that case was later dismissed.
A trial date for their case is set for May 18, 2026.
