LOS ANGELES: Actor and director Justin Baldoni has come under renewed scrutiny after newly unsealed court documents revealed text messages in which his co-stars discussed what they described as inappropriate on-set behaviour, including a remark involving pop star Britney Spears.
The messages form part of a 2024 lawsuit filed by actress Blake Lively, who has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Baldoni has denied the allegations.
Text messages unsealed
The text exchanges, cited by the Daily Mail, were shared between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Jenny Slate.
In the messages, the actresses discussed several incidents they said occurred during filming.
In one exchange, Lively recalled a moment when she and Slate were praising Britney Spears for her strength and athleticism.
Lively wrote that Baldoni suddenly interjected, said “same,” laughed, and rolled his eyes, which she said left both actresses in stunned silence.
Slate replied that moments like this made her “shut down” on set because she did not want to invite further comments, describing the behaviour as “gross and stupid.”
Lively agreed, calling the incident “alarming.”
Unprofessional conduct
The texts also reference other alleged incidents. Lively said Baldoni once told her she looked “hot” during filming.
When she objected, he reportedly responded with “ok sexy,” before joking about whether he had crossed a line.
Slate separately described the shoot in messages to a confidante as “really gross and disturbing,” alleging what she called repeated oversteps by Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath.
In one message reviewed during a deposition in New York in September, Slate wrote that both men were “truly unfit.”
According to court records, Slate said she felt “repulsed and deeply irritated” during filming and expressed concern that Lively was experiencing more serious distress.
Baldoni denies claims
Baldoni has denied all allegations made in the lawsuit. Representatives for the actor did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail on the newly unsealed texts.
The messages surfaced nearly a year after Baldoni publicly discussed an awkward encounter with Britney Spears in 2017, when she appeared as a guest star on the television series Jane the Virgin.
In a past interview, Baldoni said he had hugged Spears on set, later questioning whether he had made her uncomfortable.
Ongoing legal dispute
The unsealed texts also include exchanges between Lively and actor Brandon Sklenar, another It Ends With Us co-star, in which they criticised Baldoni’s conduct and expressed concern about his professional future.
The lawsuit remains ongoing. Media restrictions and court proceedings mean the allegations have not been independently verified, and no legal findings have yet been made.
The case has drawn significant attention in the entertainment industry.
