Ryan Reynolds tapped Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, for help during the height of Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us battle against “malignantly vein, sociopathic FAUXminist” Justin Baldoni.
Court documents released on Tuesday, January 20, appear to show Reynolds, 49, reaching out to Damon, 55, and Barroso, 49, with a “zero pressure ask” about watching his wife’s cut of It Ends With Us.
“No worries either way. We’d LOVE to get your well earned pov,” Reynolds apparently wrote in a May 2024 group chat to both Damon and Barroso. “And if your girls want to see it on the big screen at B’s family and friends screening Saturday at 6pm, they’re obviously most welcome!”
Reynolds appeared to be referring to Damon and Barroso’s daughters, Isabella, 19, Gia, 16, and Stella, 15. Reynolds went on to refer to It Ends With Us as “one of the all time zingers on and off set,” apparently referring to the drama.
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“One day, we’ll make a movie about the movie. And we can’t wait to tell you all about it,” he continued. “The stories are already finding their place in the pantheon of legendary Hollywood Insanity.”
Reynolds ended the message by joking to the couple that he and Lively might be “off” from work “forever” before noting that they should all get together to play pickleball.
Lively, meanwhile, chimed in with a more serious message to Damon and Barroso. She first thanked them for watching it, before clarifying that It Ends With Us is “not a bad movie.” Lively then went on to share her alleged experience with Baldoni.
“This movie nearly killed me,” she wrote in the apparent messages. “The director/costar/producer/financier/head of the studio (yes all one person) had zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet. I wish even one of these things was hyperbole.”
Lively said it was “juicy stuff” before allegedly recounting a conversation she had with Baldoni when they started filming the movie.
“I told him on day one (after so much s*** had already gone down). ‘I don’t need anything from you. I don’t need you to guide me or to make me feel good. I’ve got me. All I need from you is, I just need you to not make me feel like s***. That’s it. I’ve got the rest.’ And that became true,” she wrote. “What I didn’t anticipate was having to do everything in this movie. I rewrote the entire script. I directed every actor.”
The documents released on Tuesday were filed as part of Lively’s unsealed deposition. She has been battling it out in court with Baldoni since 2024 after filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against the It Ends With Us director. Lively has since sued Baldoni over sexual harassment claims, which he has continued to deny.
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Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively in late 2024, which was dropped last year. They’re set to meet in court for a civil trial in May.
Lively said she was “gunning it” with her edit of the film before going head-to-head with Baldoni for a “bake off” for their respective versions.
“Anyway. It’s all the drama. That was the headline of the gossip. Not even the good stuff. Way too much info,” Lively concluded. “And like Ryan said zero zero pressure. Except the pickleball part. There’s significant pressure there.”
Barroso, a producer, responded, saying she was “so sorry” Lively had this experience. Damon chimed in with two messages.
“We’ll give you any help we can. And if this experience hasn’t totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at Artists Equity,” the actor apparently wrote, referring to the production company he started with Ben Affleck. “We’re kind of like a cult but a really nice one.”
Damon appeared to follow up,writing, “I’m looking forward to seeing his work,” apparently referring to Baldoni. Barroso then seemingly cosigned her husband, writing, “Like Matt said, artists equity from now on. No need for weird cult money.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Damon’s rep for comment.
As the apparent text message chain continued, Lively and Reyolds recounted situations with Baldoni, which have been previously reported. They shared how Baldoni allegedly asked how much Lively weighed before recalling a conversation where Baldoni said he speaks to Lively’s late father.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Reynolds wrote, noting that Baldoni has “almost no sense of boundaries or shame.” Reynolds added, “I cannot believe he hasn’t gone to jail or returned to the sun.”
