As the It Ends With Us legal battle continues, newly unsealed text messages from Jenny Slate have revealed her true thoughts on Justin Baldoni while filming the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling book.
On Tuesday, a transcript of Slate’s deposition, held on Sept. 26, 2025, in New York, for Blake Lively‘s ongoing case against Baldoni was unsealed, along with other evidence and documents. During the deposition, several of the actress’ texts were read aloud, and she addressed on-set issues working with Baldoni and Wayfarer producer Jamey Heath.
Slate played Allysa, Baldoni’s onscreen sister, in It Ends With Us, which he also directed, in addition to playing Ryle Kincaid.
At one point, Slate stated that filming the movie “has been a really gross and disturbing shoot, and I’m one of many who feel [this] way,” and claimed that she and Lively “both complained directly” to the studio.
“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 wrote in one message. “Honestly I have no words to describe what a fraud he is.”
Slate added in another text, “I honestly have never ever encountered anything like this dude. He’s the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist. Lots of lessons learned!”
In one message to her former agent in May 2023, during production on the film, Slate wrote, “This week was really intense for a few reasons. It’s like fascinating and also so shitty. Justin and Jamey are truly unfit. I’m not scared or anything, just repulsed and deeply irritated, and I know Blake is experiencing that on a much more serious level.”
The Dying for Sex star added in follow-up text, “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 shit, and I’m not kidding when I tell you that Justin and Jamey me freak me out. Like they tell really weird lies and Justin is astoundingly wrongheaded.”
While messaging her former agent, she also referenced Baldoni’s TED Talk in 2018 about empowering women and redefining masculinity. “I really don’t get how he did a TED Talk. He is worse than 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,” Slate wrote.
Earlier in her deposition, the Big Mouth actress was also asked about an alleged incident in which she claims Baldoni commented on her appearance, telling her, “I can say this because my wife is here, but you look sexy in what you’re wearing.”
In response, Slate described the filmmaker’s comment as “not appropriate” on a film set or in “any workplace.”
When asked why she felt Baldoni’s remark was inappropriate in this situation, as her appearance is an element of acting, Slate stated, “The comment was about me, not my character. It wasn’t useful for my work. It wasn’t anything I wanted. It was unwanted and had no place, in my professional experience.”
The actress noted that she didn’t tell Baldoni about her frustrations over the comment because she “didn’t feel comfortable,” adding in her deposition, “It was either my first or second day on set. He was my boss, and I just wanted to do my work and leave.”
In the deposition, it was also revealed that Slate initially told her team in June 2023 that she didn’t want to be paired with Baldoni or Heath while promoting the movie, and maintained that stance through the film’s press tour. “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], who is truly unprofessional,” she messaged her team.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Slate and Baldoni’s reps for comment, but did not hear back at time of publication.
Months after THR broke the news in August 2024 of a feud between Lively and Baldoni while filming It Ends With Us, a legal battle between the two actors ignited when Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation in December 2024. She later filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer. Baldoni responded with his own lawsuit, but that was dismissed in June 2025.
A trial for the case is set for May 18.
After Lively filed her initial complaint against Baldoni, Slate spoke out in support of her co-star at the time. “As Blake Lively’s cast mate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,” she wrote in a statement. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her. What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.”
