Blake Lively's flirtatious messages with Justin Baldoni before 'It Ends With Us' feud blew up revealed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni appear as rivals in the public eye due to their ongoing legal dispute, but recently revealed text messages reflect a far more nuanced relationship that began with humor, warmth, and even flirtation.

An elusive issue is raised by a Daily Mail investigation of the plethora of emails and messages hidden inside hundreds of pages of heated court files during the ugly verbal sparring: Who was flirting with whom?

'Suppositories', humor, and more flirty texts exchanged between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

The actors collaborated on the 2024 version of Colleen Hoover's famous book, which examines issues of emotional abuse and domestic violence.

Despite its difficult subject matter, the movie turned out to be a surprising box office success, making $351 million on a relatively small budget of $25 million.

They developed a rapport at the outset of filming in May 2023, as evidenced by the dozens of emails and texts that have now been made public from Lively's initial complaint and Baldoni's following $400 million defamation lawsuit.

Early conversations between the two co-stars suggest a very different, flirty beginning to their story, despite the public perception of them as bitter rivals due to their current legal struggle.

According to text conversations found in court documents, Lively and Baldoni had a "friendly banter" that was somewhat flirtatious before things on set took a bad turn.

There were doubts about where things went wrong because the two were flirting with each other via text before their dispute got violent.

According to the Mail, a text message exchange between them is now providing fresh insight into their relationship.

"I feel the same. It's such a good feeling to get work done that we're proud of. And to do it together. It just clicks when we find it," Lively, 37, wrote to Baldoni in one such conversation.

"And that’s just as rewarding as filming it. Or editing it. Or marketing it. Or releasing it. This is all story telling. This is why we do it," she added, per Page Six.

She expressed her gratitude to Baldoni, 41, for his "collaboration" in a subsequent text, writing that she was "really proud of what [they’re] doing."

The two had a "comfortable dynamic" and "friendly banter" that should have made working together easier. Baldoni responded to the aforementioned text with, "I like sentimental Blake," which made Lively joke, "Never met her."

According to Baldoni's legal team, he and Lively kept in close contact during that time, "share[ing] stories and pictures from their lives, commiserat[ing] over family illnesses and exchange[ing] jokes and memes."

"I also like a**hole Blake… don't worry," he said. With a humorous retort, the 'Gossip Girl' alum wrote: "I've met her. So have my suppositories."

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni shared cordial relationship before the start of filming

The 'It Ends with Us' co-stars shared an equally cordial relationship on May 2023 eve, the day of filming their popular movie about a young, attractive florist who falls in love with a charming but violent doctor.

Lively texted Baldoni before their first day of filming to say that she was "grateful for all [they had] built so far." "I’m excited to start tomorrow. But it’s only one piece of the journey. We started months ago," she further stated in an email that was part of the documents.

Following their fruitful first few days on set, Baldoni had similar things to say about Lively's performance.

He texted on May 23, 2023, "I’m not going to tell you that you were amazing because you tease me for being so sentimental – but you were amazing today," according to documents.

"Thank you I do appreciate it. I'm just a ball buster but it means a lot to me. I care a great deal. And always want to deliver," Lively replied.

"You were terrific. I’m proud of everything we did today, but really every day," she added.

The conversations have emerged as a key issue in each of their lawsuits; in her initial complaint, Baldoni claimed Lively "cherry-picked" remarks out of context.

More contact between Baldoni and Lively was included in his countersuit, and there will probably be more to come as a result of rumors that people involved may be subpoenaed.