Blake Lively emailed Ben Affleck begging him to watch her cut of It Ends With Us before its release and invited then-wife Jennifer Lopez to weigh in, according to unsealed court filings reviewed by News Of Los Angeles.
The May 17, 2024, message surfaced amid Lively’s legal war with director Justin Baldoni, who she sued in December 2024 for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni denies wrongdoing and countersued for $400 million-a claim a federal judge tossed in June. Trial starts May 18.
Lively’s SOS to Affleck
“Ben, It’s Blake. Don’t hang up,” the actress, 38, began the two-page plea obtained by News Of Los Angeles.
She called the shoot “the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie,” adding, “This movie nearly killed me.”
Lively told Affleck, 53, she had rewritten and restructured the script and was now in a 10-day “bake off” against Baldoni, 41, who had already edited for months. She asked if he would screen her one-hour-58-minute cut before a New York friends-and-family showing.
“If you have 1:58 of free time… would you be willing to watch the movie and give me any ideas or notes?” she wrote, offering to send a link and take feedback via voice memo. She warned the film contains domestic-violence themes.
Star-Studded Feedback Circle
Lively also welcomed Lopez’s input: “I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s… it would be an honor to have her take.”
She joked that husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, had roped in Matt Damon too. “Good men showing up,” she wrote, adding, “Can you believe Jason Bourne is watching my movie!?”
Reynolds, she said, was “blown away” by Affleck and “equally effusive about your Dunkin’ commercial,” noting the actor now had “a Canadian fan club in my house.”
Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
Lively likened the off-camera drama to “if Wild Wild Country, Fyre Festival and Going Clear had a baby with The Room.”
The email does not show whether Affleck or Lopez ever responded or viewed the film.
Legal Fallout
Lively’s suit accuses Baldoni of harassment and trying to smear her reputation; Baldoni claims she sabotaged the movie. His $400 million countersuit was dismissed, but the dueling claims are set for a Manhattan federal courtroom next month.
At a Glance
- Blake Lively emailed Ben Affleck asking him to watch her edit of It Ends With Us before release
- She also invited Jennifer Lopez to share feedback on the domestic-violence drama
- Lively called production “the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie”
- Why it matters: The private plea reveals the depth of Lively’s rift with director Justin Baldoni weeks before their legal battle exploded
Key Takeaways
- Lively had only 10 days to finish her edit while Baldoni had months
- She enlisted Hollywood A-listers for last-minute notes
- The email is now evidence in her federal harassment suit
- Trial begins May 18
