Justin Baldoni's legal team has shared screenshots of text messages he allegedly received from Ryan Reynolds ahead of working with Blake Lively on It Ends with Us.
In December, Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni accusing him of sexual harassment and trying to destroy her reputation.
Baldoni denied the accusations and filed his own lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds alleging civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
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And Baldoni's team has since launched a website containing two public documents which have been filed in court - Baldoni's amended $400 million complaint against Lively and Reynolds, alongside a 'timeline of relevant events' spanning 168 pages.
On page eight of the 'timeline of relevant events' there are multiple screenshots of an alleged text conversation.
The text conversation is alleged as being between Baldoni and Reynolds, with the first image showing Baldoni reaching out to a contact named Reynolds in an 'awkward text' to say he'd 'like to be friends'.
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The director and star of the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel claims Lively sent 'the sweetest message' to his wife 'saying something similar' which made Baldoni 'respect' Lively and Reynolds' 'union even more' noting he's been a 'supporter and admirer from afar of both of [theirs] for years'.
Baldoni mentions their families and even notes about potentially getting a 'workout' in.
The response allegedly sent by Reynolds sees the Deadpool star allegedly apologise for 'the delay' noting he's been in a 'writing cave' and his kids are 'sick again'.
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The text praises Baldoni's 'loving and generous message' and states: "We're both looking forward to getting to know you and your family better. We're also big fans over here."
Hailing Baldoni as a 'wonderful collaborator with B' and it meaning a 'great deal' to 'both of us,' the text says the director has been 'a stand up person' 'since day one'.
It then states: "You've hit the jackpot with B. She literally passes on every film and every filmmaker all the time. I'm excited for Blake to crack open her creative piggy bank with someone as dynamic as you. This is gonna be INCREDIBLE."
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The text goes on to praise Lively for her creativity and 'tastes' alongside thanking Baldoni for allegedly trying to help schedule Lively so she can 'reunite' her with her family 'as soon as possible'.
The text resolves: "All this to say, I've had your producer's face tattooed on my perineum is he/she/ they can figure out how to start two weeks earlier. Completely understand how big of an ask that is. But the perineum is one of the most nervy parts of the human body to expose to trauma. So..
"Looking forward to seeing you. And thank you again for all you're doing. I happen to adore you, Justin xo."
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A New York judge, Lewis Linman, has since set a date for their trial, with an initial conference set to take place on Monday (February 3) and first trial proceedings expected to commence on March 9 next year.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lawyer, previously told UNILAD: "This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media.
"It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth."
Other revelations from Justin Baldoni's new website
Discussion of the rooftop scene, which Lively reworked
There has already been much debate about a scene in It Ends With Us which Lively asked to rewrite.
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She wrote in a text to Baldoni: "You OK if I play around with the dialogue to give her a bit more agency and fun and send to you? We can amp up their verbal ping pong/volley."
She continued in another text: "If you knew me (in person) longer you’d have a sense of how flirty and yummy the ball busting will play. It’s my love language. Spicy and playfully bold, never with teeth…."
The statement Lively and Reynolds allegedly drafted for Baldoni
Amid negative press around Lively during the film's press tour, her talent agency WME allegedly demanded that Baldoni and production studio Wayfarer take full accountability for negative stories about Lively, otherwise the 'gloves will come off'. They believed Baldoni's team were planting negative stories about Lively.
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The statement they wrote for Baldoni reads in part: "It Ends With Us was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, the entire cast and crew led with professionalism every step of the way, any negativity aimed at them is ours to own.
"We have always said we are not perfect and even if [we] unintentionally make mistakes, we always own them."
Lively's team on Baldoni's website
The website has long been threatened by Baldoni's legal team. Lively's lawyer Michael Gottleib told the Daily Mail of their plans: "The planned website will release what Mr. Freedman self-servingly proclaims will be 'full unedited WhatsApp, text and email exchanges between Lively and Baldoni,' although neither the media nor public will have any way of knowing which communications Mr. Freedman has selectively omitted from disclosure, including communications that Mr. Freedman and his clients may have deleted."
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LADbible Group has contacted representatives for Lively and Reynolds for comment.
Topics: Ryan Reynolds, Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, Celebrity, US News, Film and TV
Poppy Bilderbeck