Blake Lively’s Private Message to Justin Baldoni Leaked: “Talking to You as a Friend” — Hear Her Spill on Timing, Family Drama & Going Back to Work Pre-‘It Ends With Us’

Blake Lively sent a candid voice message to her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni in the weeks leading up to production on the film, according to newly unsealed court exhibits.

The audio surfaced amid an ongoing legal dispute between the two. Lively, 38, sued Baldoni, 42, in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the allegations. Lively is seeking more than $160 million in damages, and the trial is scheduled for May 2026 in New York.

In the voice message, sent on Feb. 8, 2023, according to court documents, Lively spoke openly about feeling overwhelmed as she prepared to return to work, while juggling back-to-back projects, a newborn and family obligations. Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds share three daughters — James, 11, Inez, 9, and Betty, 6 — and son Olin, 2.

“I’m talking to you as a friend at this point more than anything,” Lively said in the message to Baldoni.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in It Ends With Us.Sony Pictures Entertainment

Lively explained that she was already committed to filming another project first, despite feeling physically and emotionally stretched thin. “The only reason that I’m doing [that movie] before is because I gave them my word and I wouldn’t go back on that,” she said in the voice message. “But having a week off in between, it’s just a lot.”

She also described the stress of returning to work without adequate childcare support. “I still don’t have a baby nurse,” Lively said, adding that the idea of going back to work so soon felt overwhelming.

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Much of the message centers on scheduling concerns and her desire for more time to prepare for It Ends With Us. “Shooting in April, shooting in March is just too soon after having a baby and not sleeping and wanting to be in my best shape,” she said.

In the audio, Lively went on to float the idea of adjusting the production timeline, acknowledging the request was partly personal. “Obviously there’s selfish reasons I’m telling you this,” she said to Baldoni in the message. “If by chance you’re like, ‘Oh my God, if I could go two weeks earlier, that would actually be great,’ then amazing.”

Lively ended her voice note quipping, “This is my social interaction these days — just talking into voice memos.”

During production, Baldoni also left a voice note apologizing to Lively after the two discussed changes she made to a scene in the film, according to a voice note he previously sent to the actress that was previously leaked in Jan. 2025. (At the time, PEOPLE could not verify when the message was recorded.)

In that audio and related text messages, the costars discussed Lively’s alleged changes to the romantic drama’s rooftop scene, with Baldoni expressing regret over how the situation unfolded.