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| Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in "It Ends with Us." Sony Pictures Releasing |
Newly unsealed court documents reveal that editors on It Ends With Us privately expressed frustration over Blake Lively's contractual approval rights for sex scenes including those featuring her character’s teenage self in flashbacks.
The text messages, released Friday as part of Lively’s ongoing federal lawsuit against co-star and director Justin Baldoni, provide a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative tensions surrounding the film’s most sensitive content.
In an exchange dated April 18, 2024, co-editor Robb Sullivan texted fellow editor Oona Flaherty after the movie secured a PG-13 rating:
“Woot!” Flaherty celebrated.
“Woo hoo,” Sullivan replied, adding, “I’ll drink to that! Of course, I was planning on drinking anyways… :)”
Then, in a pointed remark, Sullivan noted Lively’s unusual level of control over the film’s intimate scenes:
“SMH” shorthand for “shaking my head.”
Sullivan was referring to Lively’s final approval over all sex scenes involving her adult character, as well as those featuring the younger actress portraying her in the movie’s flashback sequences.
Another person in the text chain, identified only as Henny Grace, commented: “Honestly, it’s all about control.”
The messages, which do not include Lively herself, were unsealed from an exhibit filed under seal by Lively’s legal team and addressed to US District Judge Lewis Liman, who is presiding over the case in federal court in Manhattan.
Legal Battle Over Creative Control and Allegations of Harassment
The lawsuit, filed by Lively earlier this year, accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliation, and orchestrating a covert social media campaign to undermine both her reputation and her lifestyle brand. The suit spans 163 pages of allegations and includes claims that Baldoni attempted to “publicly humiliate” Lively in the wake of creative disagreements.
Baldoni has denied all allegations and previously filed a now-dismissed $400 million countersuit claiming that Lively attempted a "hostile takeover" of the film's production.
Tensions have escalated as both sides aggressively litigate the matter. In July, Judge Liman ordered Lively to produce three years of financial records related to her business ventures. The case is scheduled for trial on March 9, 2026.
Behind the Scenes of a PG-13 Drama
The unsealed texts shed light on internal concerns over Lively’s influence on the film. According to filings, the messages were produced by Baldoni's team in response to a subpoena from Lively’s attorneys.
Sullivan, who is not a named party in the lawsuit, has not commented publicly on the messages. However, the texts suggest that some members of the post-production team felt constrained by the actress’s stipulations.
In particular, Lively’s insistence on final-cut rights for sex scenes involving her younger counterpart appears to have sparked concern. These types of contract clauses are rare in Hollywood, especially when extending to depictions of the character in flashbacks.
Serving Subpoenas Sparks Further Dispute
Efforts to depose Sullivan have proven difficult. According to court documents filed July 28, Lively’s process server attempted to deliver a subpoena to Sullivan at his California residence five separate times but received no answer despite signs that the home was occupied.
Judge Liman ultimately authorized the server to post the subpoena to Sullivan’s door.
Subpoena disputes have become a contentious issue in the case. On July 26, Lively formally withdrew subpoenas to Google and X (formerly Twitter) seeking account information for five online content creators who had been critical of her in connection with the lawsuit. All five had filed motions to quash those subpoenas.
The newly public messages underscore the complicated mix of creative control, privacy concerns, and legal fallout facing high-profile productions particularly when workplace disputes escalate into the courtroom. As the trial date approaches, It Ends With Us continues to be at the center of both cinematic anticipation and mounting legal drama.
