Jenny Slate's Scathing Account of It Ends With Us Filming Emerges in Legal Battle
Actress Jenny Slate has described her experience making the romantic drama It Ends With Us as "a really gross and disturbing shoot" according to newly-unsealed legal documents. The 43-year-old actress's candid text messages, sent to a confidante during production, have emerged as evidence in the ongoing legal case between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Deposition Reveals Damning Communications
During a deposition taken on September 26, 2025 in New York City, Slate was questioned about text messages she sent to her former agent regarding her experience on the production. The Milton, Massachusetts-born actress, who played the role of Allysa in the film, was particularly critical of both director Justin Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath, questioning their professionalism in multiple communications.
"It's like fascinating and also so s*****. Justin and Jamey [Heath] are truly unfit," Slate stated in one message. The actress, known for roles in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Obvious Child and I Want You Back, expressed deep concerns about the working environment.
Concern for Co-star Blake Lively
Slate made specific reference to her co-star Blake Lively in several text messages, expressing concern for the 38-year-old actress who was working under Baldoni's direction. "I'm not scared or anything, just repulsed and deeply irritated, and I know Blake is experiencing that on a much more serious level," Slate revealed.
The actress went further, expressing astonishment that Baldoni had delivered a TED Talk in December 2017 after her experience working with him. "I really don't get how he did a TED Talk," Slate said. "He is worse than most of the bros I've encountered, not because he's predatory but because of his general fragility and misogyny, like not seeming to be aware of any of the obvious no-no's."
Allegations of False Persona and Unprofessionalism
Slate accused Baldoni of crafting a false persona as a feminist based on her experiences during production. "Justin is truly a false ally and I'm unwilling to do anything that promotes the image that he's crafting as a 'male feminist,'" she stated. "Honestly I have no words to describe what a fraud he is. I honestly have never ever encountered anything like this dude. He's the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist."
The actress was equally critical of producer Jamey Heath, describing him as "truly unprofessional" and expressing reluctance to participate in any promotional activities with either man prior to the film's release. "I don't want to do anything with Justin, I don't want to talk about him, like ... nothing. And the same goes for Jamey [Heath]," Slate emphasized.
Predictions of Escalating Problems
In her text messages, Slate predicted further problems during the production. "I feel like it's about to get really bad and I'm not sure what Blake's limit is but she's really taken a lot of crap from them, like crazy s****, and I'm not kidding when I tell you that Justin and Jamey me freak me out," she said. She added: "Like they tell really weird lies and Justin is astoundingly wrongheaded."
Legal Context and Broader Allegations
The text messages form part of the evidence in the contentious legal battle between Lively and Baldoni that has been ongoing for more than a year. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional stress. The actress alleged Baldoni body-shamed her and orchestrated a smear campaign against her.
Lively's legal team, led by Sigrid McCawley, commented on the newly-released evidence: "In his TedTalk to promote his brand as an advocate for women, Justin Baldoni said we must 'listen to the women' ...even if what they are saying is against you. See how he actually reacts in the bombshell new evidence released for the first time, which includes sworn testimony and contemporaneous messages from numerous women who actually worked with him."
Production Success Overshadowed by Controversy
It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel, was a commercial success, earning $148 million domestically and $350 million globally. The film, which also starred Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, centered on a toxic relationship between Lily Bloom (played by Lively) and Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni). However, the box office success has been significantly overshadowed by the allegations emerging from the production.
The case is scheduled to return to court for a January 22 hearing, with a trial date set for May 18. Baldoni had initially filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times regarding their reporting on the matter, which was later incorporated into a $400 million lawsuit filed in January naming Lively, her spouse Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. This lawsuit was dismissed in June of this year.
All parties involved have denied the allegations against them. The revelations from Slate's text messages add another layer to the complex legal drama surrounding a film that, despite its commercial success, has become mired in controversy and allegations of misconduct.
