Blake Lively Reveals Publicist Desperately Tried to Get Her Texts About Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively testified how a publicist desperately tried to get potentially important text messages into her hands during her legal battle with Justin Baldoni.

According to an outlet, the actress discussed the chain of events during her July 2025 deposition, explaining how she learned about messages stored on Wayfarer and Baldoni’s crisis publicist Jennifer Abel’s phone. The texts later became an important part of Lively’s claims against Baldoni and others involved in the It Ends With Us dispute.

According to Lively’s testimony, her friend Ashley Avignone first told her about publicist Stephanie Jones, who was reportedly trying to get in touch with her.

Lively said Jones had learned about messages on her employee Abel’s phone that she believed Lively needed to see. Jones allegedly described the material as some of the “most disturbing” messages she had encountered throughout her career.

The Shallows star testified that Jones was deeply affected by what she had read. According to Lively, Jones told Avignone that, as a mother and a woman, “she was sobbing reading the messages.”

Lively said Jones also believed she needed to know what had allegedly “been done to” her.

Lively said Jones also explained how she had come across the messages.

According to the Gossip Girl alum’s testimony, Abel had previously worked for Jones, which gave Jones access to the phone containing the texts.

Jones reportedly tried to reach Lively’s longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, as well. However, she allegedly claimed that her attempts to get through were brushed off.

Lively eventually spoke directly with Jones by phone, according to her deposition. Her legal team later subpoenaed the messages from Jones so they could be obtained and used as evidence in the lawsuit.

The messages ultimately became part of Lively’s broader legal claims against Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios associates.

Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her while they worked together on It Ends With Us. She also alleged that he and others later participated in an effort to damage her reputation after she raised concerns about his alleged behavior.

Baldoni has denied Lively’s allegations.

The texts became one piece of the larger dispute over what happened behind the scenes during and after production of the 2024 film.

Lively also alleged that a group of publicists and digital amplification efforts helped drive negative coverage about her. Baldoni’s team has denied that there was any coordinated campaign against the actress.

Media analyst and crisis communications expert Kaivan Shroff explained what could potentially indicate coordination.

“If private texts, emails, or even draft statements use the same phrasing that later shows up in headlines, captions, or leaks, that’s a big tell,” Shroff said. “Did multiple outlets publish within hours using nearly identical framing…did engagement spike in a way that looks coordinated rather than organic? That’s when a pattern starts to line up.”

Despite the lengthy legal fight, Lively’s lawsuit against Wayfarer and Baldoni never reached a jury.

The case was settled in May, just weeks before the scheduled trial, ending the dispute without a verdict.

Lively’s legal battle isn't completely over, however. According to a letter obtained by Page Six, she is seeking additional time in her ongoing fight over legal fees connected to Baldoni’s dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit.