Johnny Depp has been dragged into the ongoing legal drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni through newly revealed text messages from Ryan Reynolds, who referenced Depp’s infamous defamation case while discussing his wife’s dispute. The messages, uncovered in court documents obtained by TMZ, show Reynolds questioning the outcome of Depp’s battle as a cautionary tale in the spin surrounding the ‘It Ends With Us’ film feud.
The revelation came to light on Thursday when TMZ obtained documents containing an August 2024 text exchange between Reynolds and his talent agent Warren Zavala. In the texts, they discussed the escalating conflict between Lively and Baldoni, with Zavala expressing concerns about Baldoni’s tactics and Reynolds responding with skepticism about handling the public narrative.
Specifically, Zavala described Baldoni as having an ‘incredible ego’ and potentially laying a trap, to which Reynolds replied that the truth would eventually surface and blow up in Baldoni’s face. The agent then suggested letting the media spin ‘burn,’ prompting Reynolds to ask, ‘How’d that work out for Depp??’ — a direct reference to Depp’s high-profile legal battle with Amber Heard.
This reference ties into the broader context of the Lively-Baldoni dispute, which began in August 2024 with rumors of a feud and escalated into lawsuits. Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024 for alleged sexual harassment on the set of their film ‘It Ends With Us,’ while Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against both Lively and Reynolds, though it was dismissed in June 2025.
The text messages also reveal harsh language from Reynolds and Zavala, with the latter calling Baldoni an ‘egotistical s–t weasel with a god complex’ and Reynolds labeling him a ‘human rounding error.’ These exchanges highlight the personal animosity and strategic concerns involved in the legal wrangling.
Depp’s inclusion in the texts underscores the lasting impact of his 2022 defamation case, where he was awarded $10.35 million and Heard $2 million. Since then, Heard has moved to Spain, and Depp has resumed his career with festival appearances, but the case remains a touchstone for celebrity legal disputes.
Other celebrities have been drawn into the saga, with Jameela Jamil calling Lively a ‘suicide bomber’ and ‘villain’ in separate 2024 texts, and Taylor Swift expressing frustration with Baldoni in messages to Lively. Swift later sued Baldoni for alleged harassment, though he has denied all allegations.
Representatives for Depp, Reynolds, Lively, Baldoni, and Zavala did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Page Six, indicating that the parties are likely maintaining silence as the legal proceedings continue. The newly unsealed documents add another layer to the complex web of accusations and defenses.
Moving forward, the revelation of these texts could influence public perception and legal strategies in the ongoing case. With the core dispute unresolved and more details potentially emerging, the drama surrounding ‘It Ends With Us’ continues to captivate Hollywood, serving as a reminder of how personal conflicts can spill into the public domain through digital communications.
