Justin Baldoni Asks For Prayers Of ‘Protection’ Against Blake Lively

Director Justin Baldoni is asking for prayers of “protection” against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively. The two have been engaged in a bitter back-and-forth battle that is culminating in a trial set to be held later this year, unless the two parties somehow reach a settlement first. Recent unsealed court documents revealed private text messages from Baldoni, who asked his famous friends for “protection” amid the media whirlwind.

In December 2024, the “Gossip Girl” actress filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us” and alleging that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her.

In one unsealed court document, Baldoni sent a message to a group chat saying that he and colleague Jamey Heath were going to meet with Lively and other producers for a “big meeting” following her allegations of unsafe conduct on set.

“First time we have seen each other in person since her safety allegations,” Baldoni wrote, according to Us Weekly. “Would appreciate any prayers for protection and strength/calm.”

In response to Baldoni’s message, “The Office” alum Rainn Wilson responded, “sitting now for some prayers.” Later on, he sent Baldoni a private message to follow up on how the director was feeling. Baldoni responded by saying that he had suffered through “one of the hardest nights” of his entire life.

“It’s hard to describe what happened exactly. The only way to describe it was an ambush. I had no words I couldn’t formulate sentences. My brain was trying to defend itself when they were needing me to apologize for all of the ways I have f-cked up and made her feel unsafe,” Baldoni claimed.

He went on to claim that Lively’s husband, “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds, “was talking to me like a five-year-old and scolding me, They essentially said that Jamey and I are not who we claimed to be and that for us to have a podcast is unsafe because it makes people feel like we are safe.”

Baldoni reportedly went on to state that his remarks were taken “completely out of context” and wasn’t sure how to respond to the situation.

“The word creepy and abuse were used in reference to me in my behavior. I was then given the words of what to say, and had to apologize which I was unable to do because my brain was trying to comprehend what was happening,” he continued. “I was in shock and basically went into feeling like I was a seven-year-old again when I got home last night. I was emotionally paralyzed.”

Baldoni went on to say that he was so “embarrassed” by the situation that he was “unable to even formulate the correct words to apologize” and felt “like a bad person.”

After a few more long messages, Baldoni apologized for the “vulnerability dump,” and added, “This is one of the few safe spaces I have right now. I love you all and thank you for your prayers.”

Wilson said that he was “stunned” by the allegations levied against the director. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it. You were set up and ambushed and personally attacked. I’m stunned. I completely relate to you being stunned, like a deer in the headlights,” he wrote, according to the court documents.

“Probably better that you didn’t immediately just start apologizing,” Wilson continued. “So grateful that Jamey is your partner, and could step in diplomatically as needed. Onwards brother. Make a great and important and entertaining piece of storytelling. That’s all you can do now. So sorry for what you went thru.”

In other messages, Baldoni claimed that “It Ends With Us” author Colleen Hoover “betrayed” and “ghosted” him during this difficult time. Although one of his PR people reportedly encouraged him to “open up” a dialogue with the author, Baldoni confessed that he didn’t have the “capacity” to do so.

“I’m sorry I don’t have the capacity just right now in this moment to be the bigger person and to do that,” Baldoni replied in the alleged text message. “You have to remember that it was her betrayal that landed me in the hospital. It’s been devastating to me.”

As The Blast previously reported, Hoover revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer last year after fans raised concerns about her well-being.