Blake Lively faces new scrutiny after audio leak

Blake Lively is facing new scrutiny after a private audio message, once intended for a trusted aide, became public thanks to court documents.

The recording, now at the heart of its high-stakes legal battle with Justin Baldonireshapes the way its assertions are interpreted.

As lawyers debate context and intent, the four-minute voice note raises difficult questions that could change the trajectory of the case.

The controversy centers around a candid voice note Lively sent to Baldoni in February 2023, weeks after she welcomed her fourth child and months before filming for “It Ends With Us” began.

The audio, that the Daily Mail obtained from documents filed in New York court, captures a vulnerable moment as Lively discussed her anxiety about returning to work so soon after giving birth.

She spoke openly about physical recovery, exhaustion and the pressure of preparing for a demanding shoot.

In the recording, she admitted to feeling overwhelmed and wanting to “work out every day” while grappling with the reality of being back on set almost immediately.

The timing of the post became significant because it predated the alleged incidents at the heart of his trial.

Baldoni’s legal team says the recording complicates his story, while his supporters say it reflects an honest, human moment taken out of context.

In the rambling four-and-a-half minute post, Lively explained that she had discussions with the director of the sci-fi project “Proxy,” noting that there was “very little time to prepare.”

She revealed that the director asked if the start date of “It Ends With Us” could be pushed back, but she refused. His explanation highlighted how tight his work commitments had become.

She told Baldoni: “I was really, really upset. I don’t talk to him (the other director) like I talk to you, so I didn’t talk to him about not having a nanny – I still don’t have one anyway.”

She went on to express the emotional tension of balancing recovery and expectations.

Lively said: “The idea of ​​going back to work right away. The idea of ​​wanting to work out every day while still being on set every day. Like what have I done?”

The words now sit uncomfortable next to his later assertions.

At the heart of Lively’s lawsuit is her allegation that Baldoni shamed her shortly after she gave birth. She claims he asked her personal trainer, Dan Saladino, about her weight, a question Saladino then relayed to her.

In his testimony, Saladino said the investigation made him “uncomfortable,” prompting him to tell Lively.

Baldoni, however, maintains that he was concerned about being able to lift her safely during a scene due to his own back problems.

Lively’s complaint alleges that Baldoni “regularly degraded” her by finding “devious ways to criticize her body and weight.”

She said she felt “humiliated” after learning of the alleged remarks, including the claim that he wanted her to “lose weight in two weeks”.

The complaint adds: “Mr. Baldoni told the coach that he asked because he was afraid he would have to take Ms. Lively into a scene in the film, but no such scene existed.”

The alleged fat shaming allegedly struck a chord with Ryan Reynolds, according to legal documents.

During a January 2024 meeting at the couple’s home, Reynolds was described as “enraged” during what Baldoni called a “traumatic encounter.”

Court documents say Reynolds demanded an apology, and when Baldoni “resisted apologizing for what he hadn’t done, Reynolds became even angrier.”

Baldoni’s lawyers later claimed that he had “never been spoken to like that in his life.”

The dispute escalated when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation through a smear campaign, which he denied. While a judge last year threw out Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit, the legal battle continues, with the newly released audio adding another volatile layer.