Blake Lively Allegedly Reached Out to Ben Affleck About ‘Chaotic Clown’ Justin Baldoni Amid Feud

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More details about the issues surrounding the book It Ends With Us have come to light. Court records that were previously confidential were made public on Tuesday, January 20th, revealing new information.

Documents show Blake Lively asked Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for advice while dealing with disagreements with director Justin Baldoni. Us Weekly reported that Lively contacted Affleck in May 2024 to get his opinion on her version of the film.

In an email to someone identified as Affleck, Lively described working on the film as “the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had.” She strongly criticized the production, comparing it to infamous failures like the documentaries Wild Wild Country, Fyre Festival, and Going Clear, and even the cult classic The Room. She jokingly suggested it was a combination of all those disasters.

Lively said she had to take creative control of the project because of problems with Baldoni’s work. She explained that she completely rewrote and reorganized the script and essentially ended up directing the film herself. She described working through the production while dealing with Baldoni, who wore many hats – director, actor, producer, financier, and studio head – and created a chaotic environment.

The documents reveal Lively was very upset with the way power operated on the movie set. She pointed out that Justin Baldoni held multiple roles, saying, “Yes, that’s all the same person.” She also made a shocking statement about the crew, claiming that everyone the director hired was “in a cult.”

Lively wanted Affleck to see her version of the film before she had to negotiate with Baldoni about the final edit. She insisted there was no pressure, but she really wanted his opinion. She told him he was one of the few people who could give such helpful and detailed feedback.

Blake Lively also asked Ben Affleck’s wife at the time, Jennifer Lopez, to see the movie if she was available. Lively explained in a message that she’s a big fan of Lopez and has told her so whenever they’ve met, adding that it would be a privilege to have her watch it. This exchange happened before Affleck and Lopez officially divorced in 2025.

Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, reached out to several people for help, including Matt Damon. In messages revealed in court documents, Lively complained to Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, about director Michael Bay’s inflated ego. She described him as believing he was a visionary and criticized his lack of good judgment.

Damon quickly offered his support to the couple when they were facing a difficult situation at work. He messaged, “We’ll give you any help we can.” He also playfully suggested Blake consider Artists Equity for her next film, joking that it was “kind of like a cult but a really nice one” if she hadn’t been too discouraged by the experience.

The details emerged from a lawsuit that began in 2024, where Lively accused Baldoni of s harassment. While Baldoni initially filed a countersuit, it was dismissed in June 2025. The case is now set to go to civil trial in May.

Blake Lively first became famous for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on the TV show Gossip Girl, and she’s continued to be a popular figure ever since. She’s gone on to star in hit movies like The Shallows, The Age of Adaline, and A Simple Favor. She just finished filming A Simple Favor 2, where she’ll once again play Emily Nelson alongside Anna Kendrick.

Justin Baldoni, famous for his acting in Jane the Virgin, has become a director known for moving films like Five Feet Apart and Clouds. He also wrote Man Enough, a book that questions typical ideas about what it means to be a man, which is why recent accusations against him have drawn a lot of attention. His film It Ends With Us, adapted from the popular novel by Colleen Hoover, was a huge box office hit, even though there were conflicts during production.

Do you believe Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s involvement will affect the trial’s result? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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2026-01-21 23:46