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It’s possible Ben Affleck didn’t want anything to do with Blake Lively’s now-viral email.
Unsealed court documents released on Tuesday, January 20, revealed an email Lively, 38, apparently sent Affleck, 53, asking for his help amid her drama with It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni. While Affleck’s full name was redacted, certain clues — like referencing a Dunkin’ commercial — led fans to believe Lively was reaching out to her The Town costar.
No response to Lively’s email, sent in May 2024, was filed with the rest of the documents, making fans think that Affleck chose not to answer. Us Weekly reached out to Affleck’s rep for comment.
“It’s Blake. Don’t hang up.I hope life is treating you beautifully. Ryan was going on and on about you recently amongst all that chaos,” Lively wrote. “He was blown away by you. Though he was equally effusive about your Dunkin’ commercial. So know you have a Canadian fan club in my house. And a Burbank one too.”
Lively went on to say that she had a “zero pressure” ask for Affleck regarding It Ends With Us.
“I’ve just come out the other side (well almost) of the most upsetting experience I’ve ever had on a movie,” she continued. “The making of doc of this film would be more interesting than the movie could ever be.”
Lively compared her experience on the film to cult-docs Wild Wild Country, Fyre Festival, Going Clear, The Room and Room. She claimed to have rewritten and restructured the “entire film” after dealing with Baldoni.
“I also ended up having to direct the movie via the chaotic clown ‘director’/actor/producer/financier/studio head at the center. Yes that’s all
the same person,” she continued. “Oh and did I mention he and everyone he had on the movie is in a cult.”
Lively wished she had “just formally directed” the movie because that would have made things “much easier” than dealing with Baldoni’s “taste, ego and preexisting decisions.” She failed to touch on “the wild HR issues and beyond.”
Lively initially filed a complaint against Baldoni in the California Civil Rights Department before suing him over sexual harassment claims. Baldoni has continued to deny Lively’s allegations, going as far as to file a countersuit, which was dismissed in June 2025. The two are set to face off in civil court later this year.
Justin Baldoni’s private text messages have been released amid his ongoing legal battle against his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively. According to court documents unsealed on Tuesday, January 20, Baldoni, 41, sent messages to Lively about their collaboration on It Ends With Us and spoke about the behind-the-scenes drama to others. In addition […]
As Lively’s email continued, she said that she’s in a “bake off” with Baldoni over their respective edits of It Ends With Us. She asked him to watch the movie and “give me any ideas or notes.”
Lively also made it clear that she would “love” if Affleck’s then-wife Jennifer Lopez watched the film as well. (Affleck and Lopez wed in 2022 and were divorced by 2025.)
“I’m such a fan of Jennifer’s, I’ve told her as much every time I’ve met her, and it would be an honor to have her take,” she wrote. “Again, zero pressure. I just really want this to work after all I’ve put into it. This movie nearly killed me. And I can think of very few people who would be as prescriptive and insightful as I know you would be.”
Lively also noted that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had reached out to Matt Damon with a similar ask. While Damon’s full name wasn’t included in the email, the actress referenced Jason Bourne, one of Damon’s most famed film characters. Text messages between Reynolds, Lively, Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, were also released on Tuesday. (Read those, here.)
“If you’re still reading this, whoa. You’re not nearly as busy as you think. or you’re a very nice person,” Lively concluded to Affleck. “Sending you all the best always.”
