The ongoing legal conflict between actor Justin Baldoni and Hollywood star Blake Lively has taken a dramatic new turn with the public release of private text messages showing strong support from The Office star Rainn Wilson.
Private Messages Become Public Evidence
According to court documents obtained by Variety, Baldoni's legal team filed these text messages as evidence in the escalating legal battle. The messages originated from a group chat dated January 5, 2024 that included Baldoni, Rainn Wilson, Travis Van Winkle, Andy Grammer, and producer Jamey Heath.
The conversation began when Wilson asked for updates, prompting Baldoni to describe what he called "one of the hardest nights of my life." The actor detailed a tense confrontation with Ryan Reynolds, who is married to Blake Lively, that occurred the previous evening.
Baldoni's Tense Encounter with Ryan Reynolds
In the group chat, Baldoni claimed that Reynolds spoke to him "like a five-year-old" and reprimanded him over a podcast that Baldoni and Heath were involved in. According to Baldoni's account, Reynolds and Lively felt the podcast made people feel "unsafe" and accused the pair of not being who they claimed to be.
Baldoni further revealed that during this confrontation, words like "creepy" and "abuse" were directed at him. He stated that he was pressured to apologize using specific words provided to him and struggled to respond as he was processing the situation.
Rainn Wilson's Strong Support
Rainn Wilson responded with immediate compassion and encouragement. "You were set up and ambushed and personally attacked," Wilson wrote in his supportive message.
Wilson expressed being stunned by Baldoni's description of events and praised producer Jamey Heath for intervening calmly during the confrontation. The actor reminded Baldoni to focus on moving forward and creating meaningful work despite the challenging circumstances.
Ongoing Legal Battle
The release of these private messages occurs against the backdrop of a larger legal dispute between the parties. On December 20, 2024, Blake Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment during production of the film "It Ends With Us."
Baldoni subsequently sued Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation, though that case was dismissed. Most recently, on November 12, Baldoni filed a motion to dismiss Lively's harassment claims. The case is scheduled to proceed to trial in March.
The public nature of these private conversations provides unprecedented insight into the tensions brewing behind the scenes of the highly anticipated film adaptation, revealing the personal dynamics and conflicts that have now escalated into formal legal proceedings.
