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Here are the nine text messages included in Justin Baldoni's lawsuit that he claims prove that he has been defamed.
Baldoni and Blake Lively have been embroiled in a legal battle over the past month or so, with the It Ends with Us co-stars filing numerous lawsuits against one another.
It all began when the latter filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a campaign of 'social manipulation' against her, including bombshell text messages of her own.
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Then Baldoni's team filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times.
The US news publication made Lively's lawsuit public, with Baldoni's lawyers alleging a false-light invasion of privacy and libel.
On New Year's Eve, Lively then filed another lawsuit against Baldoni, this time at a federal court in New York,
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Yesterday (16 January), Baldoni countered by handing Lively, Reynolds and their publicist, Leslie Sloane and her PR firm Vision PR, with a lawsuit of his own.
His attorneys filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on behalf of the 40-year-old actor, producer Jamey Heath, publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis publicist Melissa Nathan.
Baldoni is suing on claims of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.
In the lawsuit, which was seen by LADbible, nine text messages are included, as he alleges that they prove that he has been defamed by his co-star.
"It looks like we are trying to take her down"
"How can we say somehow that we are not doing any of this - it looks like we are trying to take her down."
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Baldoni claimed to send this message to his team as stories started to surface of them intentionally trying to tear the Gossip Girl actor down.
"Not true obviously"
He then later followed this up by writing:
"Ok please monitor,
"Things I'm more worried about is that we are planting these stories which is not true obviously."
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"Everything now looks like it's me"
However, in another case, Baldoni and his publicist were discussing a news article which speculated on the future of Lively's career after describing a Q&A she did for the film as 'tone-deaf'.
The New York Times claimed in their public release of Lively's lawsuit that Baldoni's team was 'revelling' in damaging her image, including the text exchange between his publicist and crisis publicist.
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Jennifer Abel: "Wow, you really outdid yourself with this piece"
Melissa Nathan: "That's why you hired me right? I'm the best"
However, in Baldoni's lawsuit, it was highlighted that prior to this, Nathan forwarded a message from a reporter telling her about the Daily Mail article.
Nathan wrote: "Damn. This is not fair because it's not me, everything now looks like it's me."
It was also explained that after Abel said that Nathan 'outdid' herself, she added an upside smiley face emoji, to symbolise sarcasm or joking.
"We had nothing to do with that"
"Like come on,
"We had NOTHING to do with that"
These messages are from an unspecified member of Baldoni's team at The Agency Group, in response to social media backlash against Lively's comments on the It Ends With Us press tour.
Baldoni claims that it was Lively's own actions that brought on the backlash following her press tour, as she said in one interview: "Grab your friends. Wear your florals."
She was criticised for the comment since the movie navigated themes of domestic violence, though Lively argued that it was all part of the marketing strategy for the film.
"None of us knew about this"
Melissa Nathan: "This just ran - obviously none of us knew about this either. But once media goes in, they go in.
"And the best thing we can do right now is be quiet. Let's get through this week together.
"Then just move on and back to regular planning with Instagram posts and thoughtful ideas and messages.
"The content creators are on fire, and Justin, she handed it to them all on a plate."
These messages were allegedly sent from Nathan, with an article linked that revealed an 'unearthed' interview from Lively which the outlet said portrayed her in an unflattering light.
"Just pumping in my trailer"
Lively: "I'm just pumping in my trailer if you wanna work out our lines."
Baldoni: "Copy, eating with crew and will head that way."
With this text exchange from 2 June 2023, Lively allegedly invites Baldoni into her trailer while she was breastfeeding.
The messages were included in Baldoni's lawsuit to counter the sexual harassment claims, as she willingly asked him to come into her personal space, at least once, after claiming invasions of privacy.
He also responded to claims that he showed photos of his wife naked, but it turned out that it was actually a birthing video.
"Just hired intimacy coordinator"
Baldoni: "Just hired intimacy coordinator who I LOVE. Will set you up to meet/FT with her next week for intro" (thumbs up)
Lively: "I feel good. I can meet her when we start :) thank you though!"
This alleged exchange was included to counter claims from Lively that Baldoni would 'improvise' intimacy on set.
Lively seems to reject a meeting with the coordinator before filming begins.
"I was asked not to come to the premiere"
"Long story but we won't be in the same room - I was asked to not even come to premier. I can figure it out."
Fast-forwarding to the premiere, Baldoni allegedly said this in a group chat, after he claimed that Lively cut her own version of the movie, undermining his influence on the film as director.
Baldoni was also heard to address his treatment at the premiere in a leaked voice recording.
"Different timings and holding areas"
One of the editors then claimed that they no longer wanted to go to the premiere in a text exchange.
Baldoni confirmed he was now going to attend, but claimed he would be kept away from Lively while there.
Baldoni: "Well, if you decide to change your mind last minute, let me know and let's figure it out together.
"I'm just gonna be there that's just different timing and holding areas and theaters and all the things you can imagine. It's still our film."
Editor: "It would be very hard for me to sit and watch the 'final' film for the first time at the premiere. Just cheer for us when our names come up! Sending all love.
LADbible has previously reached out to Lively and Baldoni's representatives for comment.
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Celebrity, Film
Joshua Nair