Blake Lively Details How She Obtained Key Text Messages

Blake Lively provided detailed testimony about the chain of events that led her to obtain text messages which became pivotal evidence in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, according to deposition records from July 2025.

The actress explained during the deposition how she came into possession of text messages from publicist Jennifer Abel's phone. Those communications later formed a significant portion of her allegations that Baldoni had engaged a crisis public relations firm to damage her reputation after she raised sexual harassment complaints during production of "It Ends With Us." Baldoni denied the allegations, and the parties reached a settlement before the case went to trial.

According to Lively's testimony, the process began when her friend Ashley Avignone, who also maintains a friendship with Taylor Swift, informed her about the existence of the messages. Avignone told Lively that a publicist named Stephanie Jones was attempting to make contact with her.

Lively testified that Jones characterized the phone's contents as "the most disturbing messages she's ever read in her 20- to 30-plus-year career," TMZ reported. Jones reportedly told Avignone that as a mother and woman, "she was sobbing reading the messages."

The publicist believed Lively should be made aware of what had "been done to" her, according to the testimony. Lively stated that Jones claimed to have made repeated attempts to contact Lively's publicist, Leslie Sloane, but received no response to her outreach efforts.

During her deposition, Lively explained that Jones had access to Abel's phone because Abel had previously worked as her employee. The actress testified that she eventually spoke directly with Jones by telephone and subsequently obtained the text messages in question.

The lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer reached a settlement weeks before the scheduled trial date. The resolution brought an end to legal proceedings that had drawn significant public attention to allegations surrounding the production of the romantic drama.

The case centered on Lively's claims regarding her treatment during filming and subsequent public relations efforts she alleged were designed to harm her professional reputation. The settlement terms were not disclosed publicly.