Ryan Reynolds Criticizes Justin Baldoni in Unsealed Texts Amid Blake Lively Lawsuit

Ryan Reynolds harshly criticized director Justin Baldoni in newly unsealed text messages, describing him as a "predator and sociopath." The messages, exchanged with author Colleen Hoover, emerged during the legal dispute initiated by Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, who accused Baldoni of sexual harassment.

In an August 10, 2024, text, Reynolds expressed disbelief at how individuals involved in a production might disregard behavior he deemed predatory. "It’s amazing to me that you can have everybody involved with a production completely run away from a person who is obviously a predator and sociopath and the narrative must first land on why a woman is the problem," he wrote to Hoover.

Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends With Us," a film based on Hoover's novel, which Baldoni directed and starred in. Baldoni has denied Lively's allegations. The texts were sent as Lively faced public scrutiny while promoting the film, which addresses domestic violence.

"It’s mind blowing," Hoover replied to Reynolds. "But also I feel like the loud ones are mostly 13-year-olds who don’t have fully developed brains yet and will be mortified by their thought process a few years from now."

Reynolds responded, "Surprising it’s mostly girls. At least, that’s what I’ve seen. And the really smart folks already know. Although the narrative at the moment is how insanely well the film is performing and how much audiences love it. So…"

A source close to Reynolds told Page Six that the actor was attempting to protect his wife, who they claimed was targeted by a crisis public relations team hired by Baldoni. This PR team, the source alleged, has been accused of similar smear tactics in at least five other lawsuits, according to The New York Times.

Reynolds also appeared to mock Baldoni's crisis PR strategy in an imagined conversation. "Crisis team: okay, Justin, all you do is talk about DV and how wonderful Blake is. And we’ll handle the online stuff. No matter what, you keep up your feminist advocacy. And speak like an emotionally elevated thought leader. Understood?" Reynolds wrote, followed by Baldoni's imagined response: "Justin: Namaste. Let’s get this bitch."

In a separate message on August 9, 2024, to his agent, Warren Zavala, Reynolds referred to Baldoni as a "human rounding error." He added, "And I think the truth about him is already finding its way to the light."

Baldoni denied all of Lively's allegations and filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their PR team. That lawsuit was dismissed in June 2025. Lively and the remaining defendants in her case reached a settlement in May 2026.