Inside Blake Lively’s candid voice message to Justin Baldoni unsealed in court

A candid voice message sent by Blake Lively to Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director on the film It Ends With Us has come to light in newly unsealed court documents. The message, sent in February 2023, was shared as part of ongoing legal proceedings in which Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the allegations, and the case is scheduled for trial in May 2026 in New York.

In the voice message, as reported by PEOPLE, Lively addressed Baldoni directly. She said, “I’m talking to you as a friend at this point more than anything,” as she discussed the challenges she faced while preparing to return to work. At the time, Lively was managing overlapping professional commitments along with the demands of caring for a newborn and her family.

According to the court records, Lively outlined her obligation to another film project before joining It Ends With Us, despite feeling physically and emotionally stretched. She said, “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,” and added, “But having a week off in between, it’s just a lot.”

Lively also spoke in the message about the difficulties of arranging childcare, noting, “I still don’t have a baby nurse,” describing how the prospect of returning to work so soon after childbirth was overwhelming.

The message further emphasised Lively’s scheduling concerns and her wish to have more time before filming started on It Ends With Us. She said, “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.”

In the recording, Lively floated the idea of possibly adjusting the production timeline to accommodate her situation, admitting, “Obviously there’s selfish reasons I’m telling you this,” and suggesting that a change in timing might benefit both parties: “If by chance you’re like, ‘Oh my God, if I could go two weeks earlier, that would actually be great,’ then amazing.”

Lively concluded her message on a lighter note, saying, “This is my social interaction these days — just talking into voice memos.”

Court records also indicate that during production, Baldoni left a voice note apologising to Lively after discussions about changes she made to a scene in the film.

In related texts and audio, both addressed how Lively managed revisions to a rooftop scene, with Baldoni expressing regret about the circumstances.