323: BLAKE LIVELY VS. JUSTIN BALDONI PT. 9! Blake & Ryan's Cringe Emails to Ben Affleck, Colleen Hoover, Matt & Lucy Damon, & Sony Exec BTS Emails

Summary

Pop Apologists Episode 323: BLAKE LIVELY VS. JUSTIN BALDONI PT. 9!—Detailed Summary

Podcast: Pop Apologists
Hosts: (Implied) Lauren and Chandler (with a possible third co-host intermittently)
Episode: 323
Date: January 26, 2026

---

Overview

This episode is the ninth installment in the “Justin Baldoni vs. Blake Lively” series, focusing on recently released court documents, depositions, and behind-the-scenes communications from the tumultuous production and aftermath of the Colleen Hoover adaptation It Ends With Us. The sisters dig into Jenny Slate’s deposition about on-set incidents, emails/texts exchanged between Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood A-listers (Matt Damon, Lucy Damon, Ben Affleck), and Sony executives’ internal messages about Blake. The hosts also provide commentary on the dynamics of the controversy, often with their trademark irreverence and pop-culture savvy.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emergency Episode Context (03:00)

• The episode was recorded as an “emergency” to discuss newly released discovery and depositions related to the Baldoni-Lively lawsuit.
• The episode was intentionally expedited to cover recent developments ahead of the scheduled trial.

2. DJ Fat Tony and the Beckham Wedding Sideshow (02:04–10:02)

• The hosts discuss the viral story of DJ Fat Tony’s revelation about the Brooklyn Beckham–Nicola Peltz wedding fiasco.
• DJ Fat Tony describes a moment when Marc Anthony called Victoria Beckham on stage instead of Nicola, leading to Nicola storming out in tears.
• The sisters dissect the wedding drama as emblematic of underlying family issues ("the fact that she ran out...shows things were bad beforehand" - Host 1, 06:20).
• Notable moment: “It’s like your nerves on edge and you’re already at the place of tears...weddings move so fast you don’t even process.” – Host 3 (06:55)

---

3. Re-Entering The Main Scandal: Baldoni vs. Lively Begins (12:10)

3.1 Groundwork for Part 9

• Recap of “he said, she said” conflict: Is Baldoni a “creep,” or did Blake Lively use that claim as part of a behind-the-scenes power grab?
• Jenny Slate’s deposition becomes pivotal as a perceived “neutral third party.”

3.2 Jenny Slate Deposition Breakdown (13:25–32:39)

• On-Set Incident (Bar Scene): Justin Baldoni allegedly calls Blake “hot” and “sexy,” and is called out by Slate:
  • Jenny shares: “We were...getting ready to shoot...Blake and I and Justin were on set, and he mentioned that she looked...sexy and then hot...I remember her saying, that's not what I'm going for...he tried another modifier...I then said to Justin...comments about actors' bodies and their wardrobes...range from irrelevant...to inappropriate and distracting...we're just not doing this anymore.” (14:45)
  • She perceives Baldoni’s later claim (“it’s hot in here”) as untruthful.
  • When asked if Baldoni was referring to Lively’s body, Jenny answers, “I felt that it was about her body.” (16:23)
• Slate as Witness:
  • The hosts stress Jenny Slate was not close with Blake at the time—suggesting her account is unbiased.
  • Jerry-rigged video footage confirms Baldoni’s remarks and flippant, “Sorry, I must have missed the sexual harassment training” response (19:55).
• Both Sides Villainous: Commentary pivots to call both Blake (a “malignant narcissist”) and Justin “awful” for their respective roles. (21:19)
• Slate recounts Baldoni also called her “sexy” on set: “I can say this because my wife is here, but you look sexy in what you’re wearing.” – Jenny Slate quoting Baldoni (22:55)
• Slate’s feelings: “Sort of lightly stunned...I just wanted to do my work and leave.” (25:52–26:13)
• Set vibes turn “funky” after confrontations, with Blake and Jenny commiserating over the “weirdness.” (27:10)
• Host 3: “He has to punish everyone after he's called out. The fact they were corresponding...corroborates Blake's side.” (27:10)
• Slate describes Baldoni as “astoundingly wrongheaded,” his behavior as “deeply irritating and repulsive” (28:32).

Notable Quote:
“There are some men who are just, I think, so pornified and driven by sexuality or whatever that they only see women through a sexual lens … their appraisal of a woman being fuckable … they should tell her because she’s going to want to hear that.” – Host 3 (24:19)

---

4. Blake’s Behind-the-Scenes Campaign (35:22–46:27)

4.1. Messaging Matt & Lucy Damon

• Blake & Ryan reach out to the Damons to get notes on Blake’s “cut” of the movie, with “no pressure” but obvious subtext:
  • "Matt says, 'we’ll give you any help we can. And if this experience hasn’t totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at Artist Equity. We're kind of like a cult, but a really nice one.'" (42:40)
  • Blake paints Baldoni as a “director/producer/financier/studio head-in-one in a cult,” claiming she had to rescue the film (40:31).
  • Both hosts point out the absurdity and volume of the emails, and how embarrassing it is to ask such film-industry heavyweights for help on a domestic violence melodrama.

4.2. Email to Ben Affleck

• Opening line: “Ben, it’s Blake. Like, don’t hang up. I hope life is treating you beautifully.” (48:36)
• Both hosts immediately read this as “ex energy.”
• Blake proceeds with another “zero pressure” ask (for notes on her film), dropping references to “Jennifer” (likely JLo, at this date) and asking for the whole family to view it (51:16).
• Discussion ensues about her utter boldness/desperation in leveraging literally every connection (“How desperate do you have to be to write an email to your ex?” – Host 1, 53:23)
• Host 3: “I could be on the brink of homelessness with my children...I’m not emailing my ex for help, like, are you kidding me?” (53:41)

---

5. Sony Executives’ Private Opinions on Blake (55:41–60:46)

• Excerpts from Sony internal emails:
  • “She orchestrated all this drama in a totally unsavvy and amateur way and basically threatened Sony, and now it’s mad backfired on her.” — EVP Tahara Grant (56:07)
  • “She did it to herself. If she just let him come to the premiere or didn’t make all the cast unfollow him...and did what everyone ever did in show business...which is to protect the show, then none of this sleuthing would have happened.” — Sanford Panitch (Sony Pres.) (56:54–57:01)
  • “She is a terrorist.” — Sanford Panitch (58:36)
  • “She has a huge hit movie headed to $300 million plus and probably will never work again or not for a while...Tom thinks she's probably and bizarrely unhirable right now.” (59:07)

Notable Reaction

• Both sisters mock Sony’s dramatic language (“epic level stupid,” “terrorist”).
• Host 3: "She went full scorched earth—and she didn’t really have the vindication for doing so." (57:41)

---

6. Ryan Reynolds’ Cringe Message to Colleen Hoover (61:00–67:12)

• Ryan’s overblown congratulatory email to author Colleen Hoover is read in full and roasted mercilessly by the hosts.
  • “Colleen, I’m sending you literally every form of congratulations. I see the sky while jumping up and down and rapidly happy clapping at one…” (62:08)
  • Bizarre references ("puking in a gulag," "pants down spanking in the supermarket")
• Sisterly verdict: “He’s the worst of them all. I have no words…that email made me hate words.” – Host 3 (66:25)
• On Reynolds’ style: “He has a constant laugh track of paid employees. So he does think that she wants to get this.” – Host 3 (68:24)
• Both hosts reflect on Reynolds’ exhausting, self-congratulatory, and try-hard persona.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It’s a micro-expression, but it’s like, this guy. Like, it’s so…awkward.” – Host 3, reacting to the on-set footage of Baldoni (19:32)
• “She is smearing him, and she is trying to leverage all of her connections for this hostile takeover.” – Host 3 on Blake’s campaign (35:56)
• “The president of Sony is calling her a terrorist.” — Host 3 (58:36)
• “This movie is so corny.” – Host 3 (42:02)
• “How desperate do you have to be to write an email to your ex? I’m sorry…” – Host 1 (53:23)
• “He’s the worst of them all. I have no words.” – Host 3 (66:25)
• “Burn the books, literally. We don’t…we don’t need to be literate.” – Host 1 after Ryan Reynolds’ email (66:38)
• “She went full scorched earth—and she didn’t really have the vindication for doing so.” – Host 3 (57:41)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:00 — Introduction; Episode context; DJ Fat Tony/Beckham story.
• 12:10 — Main topic begins: Baldoni vs. Lively, Jenny Slate deposition background.
• 13:25 — Reading and analyzing Jenny Slate’s deposition.
• 19:55 — Hosts play and analyze the on-set footage of Baldoni.
• 21:19 — Both hosts discuss how “both sides [are] awful.”
• 22:55 — Slate’s account of Baldoni calling her “sexy.”
• 28:32 — Slate’s “repulsed and deeply irritated” message to her agent.
• 35:22 — Beginning of the “Blake’s behind-the-scenes campaign” section.
• 38:01–43:08 — Blake & Ryan’s communications with Matt & Lucy Damon.
• 48:36 — Blake’s email to Ben Affleck.
• 55:41 — Reading Sony executives’ internal messages about Blake Lively.
• 61:00 — Ryan Reynolds’ message to Colleen Hoover.
• 66:25 — Wrapping up: hosts’ exasperation with Reynolds and the whole ordeal.

---

Conclusion

The episode offers a spirited, detail-packed critique of the It Ends With Us behind-the-scenes fiasco, taking listeners all the way from on-set harassment accusations and Hollywood power plays to the absurd depths of celebrity group-text etiquette and corporate gossip. Throughout, hosts Lauren and Chandler (and possible guest) provide context, evidence from court filings, and whip-smart commentary, never shying away from calling out both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni for their respective failings. The episode serves as a definitive oral history of one of recent pop culture’s messiest scandals.

---

For further details or the previous chapter examining Blake and Taylor Swift’s messages, the hosts direct subscribers to Part 8 (subscriber-only episode).

---

End of summary.

Transcript

[Host 1]

Why have I asked my electrician I found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster? I was so moved by how carefully he buried my electrical wires. I knew I could trust him to bury my sweet nibbles after his untimely end.

[Host 2]

This is very strange, Angie, the one.

[Host 1]

You trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail] Most people would rather attend a corporate team building workshop than search for auto and home insurance. Go team. Feel that synergy.

[Host 2]

That's why the zebra searches for you. Comparing over 100 insurance companies to find savings no one else can Compare.

[Host 1]

[e-mail] who's ready for the trust fall? Booking.com offers a wide array of hotels and vacation rentals across the US So you can find exactly what you're booking for. There's something for everyone, even those who are impossible to please. Find exactly what you're booking for. Booking.com booking. Yeah. Book today on the site or in the app. Well, well, well.

[Host 3]

We are back for Justin Baldoni versus Blake Lively Part nine Pop apologists. You. You guys, thank you so much for being here. What a joy it is. I thought that we were not going to be picking up this case until May, until trial began. However, we are hitting the ground running and I'm so excited because today we're getting into all of Blake's correspondence with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck. We're talking about the Sony executives, what they say about her behind the scenes. Ryan Reynolds emailed to Colleen Hoover. There's a lot to dissect. However, we did do a full deep dive on all the messages between Taylor and Blake. We read all of them. We chatted about all of it. We left no stone unturned. Yeah, 100% one Taylor. Allison Swift once said that we gather stones never knowing what they'll mean. And what we did was we gathered all.

[Host 1]

What song is that from, girl?

[Host 3]

My Tears Ricochet.

[Host 1]

Oh, I don't love that one too well.

[Host 3]

Anyway, but we took all the stones and we figured out what they meant.

[Host 1]

We did.

[Host 3]

So if you would like to listen to that, that is part eight and that is a subscriber only episode. But it is part eight of this series. If you would like to listen another.

[Host 1]

Another pop culture thing that's happening.

[Host 3]

We are going to release this episode on Monday. We're recording this. We're basically doing this as an emergency episode because we want to get into all of these new documents that have been all this discovery that's been released and. And we don't want to save it for Wednesday because anyway, we just want to cut it out in a timely manner. So this is going to be the free episode next week. And with that, I do think we should discuss the quick update on Brooklyn Beckham. Our sister sent this video. So DJ Fat Tony, if you remember, he.

[Host 1]

This is the guy who like shut down his Instagram.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Who I'd never even heard of DJ.

[Host 3]

Fat Tony, who did comment and say that he saw it, that Victoria danced inappropriately on Beckham and that it was true. And then he deleted it and just said, good for him for speaking up. Yeah, he has decided, I guess. And then he said, I've learned my lesson, I shouldn't put my foot in it. And you know, after he deleted the.

[Host 1]

Comment, he put that on, he gone into hiding.

[Host 3]

Well, no, he's actually done the exact, exact opposite because now he's giving TV interviews. Oh, shut up about DJing what he witnessed. So we are going to.

[Host 1]

It's kind of giving, like when you would say, like, I'm gonna just like delete my, like I'm just gonna like delete my face button. Get like a flip phone. And then like the next day you're like posting all the time. Yeah.

[Host 3]

It's like announcing that you're leaving social media.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 3]

And that you're, you know, you' decided to have a life that's more in nature.

[Host 1]

Right. Like the literature was that Pamela Anderson?

[Host 3]

But then like two, this will be.

[Host 1]

My last post on Instagram.

[Host 3]

Two weeks later.

[Host 1]

Baby, you're fasting.

[Host 3]

You're making up for lost time. Okay, Anyway, let's listen to what DJ Fat Tony has to say.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

Yes, I was the DJ at the wedding. It wasn't a one day wedding, it was a three day wedding. I did the, the pre, the welcome party, then I did the wedding and then I did a brunch on the Sunday, which was the most awkward part of it all because everything that had gone on on the actual wedding night was discussed amongst all the guests the next morning. But Mark Anthony was performing on stage. He then called Brooklyn onto stage. Brooklyn went onto the stage where the next minute it was, everyone was expecting it to be Nicola to go up and do the first dance. And then Mark Anthony asks the most beautifulest woman in the room to come to the stage. And then he says, victoria, come to the stage. So Victoria's by the stage, she goes onto the stage. And of course at that point Brooklyn's like suddenly, literally devastated because he thought he was going to do his first Dance with his wife. Then Nicola leaves the room crying her eyes out. Brooklyn stuck there on stage. And then they do this dance and Mark Anthony's like, go put your hands on your mother's hips. And it was a Latin, you know, it's a Latin thing. And, and the whole situation was really awkward for everyone. Room. And, and you know, I've done an awful, awful lot of Beckham parties in the past, and they're a very dancy, close knit family. They love to dance. Right. So, you know, what we deem as inappropriate is not what how Brooklyn feels. Yes. This is all about how Brooklyn feels. If he felt it was inappropriate and awkward, then it was inappropriate.

[Host 3]

It seems like it happened in the.

[Host 1]

Spur of the moment.

[Host 2]

It really was. So how, like it's so difficult to.

[Host 1]

Deem what is inappropriate.

[Host 2]

And I. What's sad is that this is the, the bit that they every at least taken from this statement. They've kind of whitewashed everything else that went on. You know, it's taken a lot for someone to go to social media to post.

[Host 1]

Put your hands on your mother's hips, like salsa with her or something.

[Host 3]

Okay. On some level, it seems like Mark Anthony, I was gonna say, is majorly also to blame. Like, where was the like, slide about Marc Anthony?

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 3]

I also think the idea that Nicola Peltz ran out of the room crying at her own wedding, like when you, when you break it down into tears, you know how like an hour later you can, like your head, your head still like, can feel that you were crying before.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 3]

It's very hard to bounce back, you know. So essentially their wedding night was completely ruined.

[Host 1]

Absolutely, completely agree. The fact that she ran out of the room crying, I think really shows that things were bad beforehand. Cause I think it, like when you're.

[Host 3]

On your, your wedding day, you're kind.

[Host 1]

Of in like on a high adrenaline rush. Like if things go wrong, which if this was just like kind of a mishap where Mark Anthony didn't get the memo, or Marc Anthony thought, first they're gonna do this dance with a mom.

[Host 3]

Right?

[Host 1]

Like, it would have been like, oh, this kind of awkward. I thought we were gonna do our first dance after. Let me go tell my assistant. Like, hey, after, make sure then it's. Then it's our first dance. Right. But the fact that she was just like, this was the last straw. This was. And this was mortifying.

[Host 3]

No, exactly. It's like your, your nerves on edge and you're already at the place of tears to be able to. Because now, on some level, things move so fast during a wedding as well. You don't even have time to properly process.

[Host 1]

No. And that's like. I mean, I just remember when, you know, I was almost on the verge of tears when I saw that our saxophone player was wearing a mustard yellow suit.

[Host 3]

Okay, maybe you do have plenty of time to process.

[Host 1]

Well, I remember thinking, that's not what I wanted, and then being like, I could. I'm too busy. And this is too. Too many other amazing things are happening for me to spend another second on this.

[Host 3]

Totally.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Um. Like, too many other amazing things are happening for me to spend another second thinking about this error. Yeah. Yeah. I think that.

[Host 3]

I think that it just goes to show that Nicola couldn't get beyond it.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 3]

She, like, had to, like, she had to go process those emotions. She couldn't pull up. She couldn't pivot like you did with the mustard yellow suit. And clearly there was just so much baggage behind that moment the night before.

[Host 1]

Apparently, you know, his parents are saying to. To him, she's not bl. Blood. Yeah. So, wow. I'm just gonna say thank you, DJ Fat Tony, for, like, doing the Lord's work and telling us what exactly happened, because I know that was a big wedding and nobody else has said.

[Host 3]

Absolutely. And I think Victoria Beckham should have not. Obviously not gone up to the stage and just been like, this is Nicola and Brooklyn's moment. But if for some reason she went to the stage because she's just like, you know how you just. I don't know. In that moment, she could have just felt like, I'm being told to go.

[Host 1]

She's on the stage being put on the spot.

[Host 3]

She's putting. Put on the spot. She's not maybe not thinking clearly. You just do all the damage control you can do, especially if you see Nicola run out, you leave. Right? Yeah.

[Host 1]

I could see her being like, all right, like, they, like, dance for a little bit, and then she's like, kind of, like, puts. Pushes him in the direction of Nicola or whatever. Like, there's a. There are ways.

[Host 3]

Nicola, for sure.

[Host 1]

Nicola. Did I say Nicola? This is your fault. This is your fault. I'm doing so well. Yeah. There are ways to try to tactfully repair the awkwardness. Also, I really think it all began with Marc Anthony saying, the most beautiful.

[Host 3]

Woman in the room. No, I mean, as we've opined, it began a lot earlier than that, which is why Nicola was on the edge of tears. But I think that this is just. There's clearly real Veracity to Brooklyn's statements. And even though we have a reel going viral right now about him being a spoiled brought which is potentially kind of true, they really were traumatized during their wedding.

[Host 1]

Do you think the Beckhams are trying to pay us off in with getting this reel to go viral? I say that like we make money from it.

[Host 3]

But that is always my favorite when someone's like they're being paid by their PR team. We wish girl.

[Host 1]

Our like direct deposit is open.

[Host 3]

We can be bought.

[Host 1]

We absolutely can be bought.

[Host 3]

It's probably not as expensive as you think.

[Host 1]

Absolutely not.

[Host 3]

Just kidding.

[Host 1]

Lauren has some jewelry purchases she's interested in.

[Host 3]

So, so true. Okay. But sadly no one's trying to buy our opinions. So we just give our real opinions. 100.

[Host 1]

I guess we have to be honest and authentic.

[Host 3]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

Until somebody pays for it.

[Host 3]

All right everyone, you know what's coming. It's time for me to espouse the.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Virtues of the very stunning product that has personally changed my world. Early Bird CBD gummies. There's something about their magical formula of hemp derived THC and CBD. It's 12.5mg CBD 2.5mg of THC. Juicy. So just a micro dose. The feeling when I take one of these gummies is so warm and gooey. It just makes you feel like you're going to melt into your pillow or just be a little bit extra cozy at dinner. It just makes it so much easier for me to relax. And I find that half a gummy it is my secret unlock to the best night's sleep of my life. To adjusting to jet lag or to having a stunning meal and just tasting every bite even more. You guys, I cannot recommend early bird CBD gummies enough. We always make sure we're stocked because we absolutely love them in our house. Go to earlybirdcbd.com and use code PA20 for 20 off. One bottle will last me at least three months. So it's really not that expensive of a product. Go to earlybirdcbd.com use code PA20 for 20% off.

[Host 1]

This episode is brought to you by booking.com. planning a Girls trip always sounds fun until you remember you're booking for multiple people with very specific opinions. My sisters and I have non negotiables blackout curtains so we can actually sleep. Good natural light for all those photos and ideally something close to a beach. And just go ahead and trust me, we're not very flexible about these things. That's why Booking.com is our go to. Booking.com offers a wide array of hotels and vacation rentals across the US So you can find exactly what you're booking for. Even if the people you're booking for are extremely picky like us. You can filter for the things that actually matter instead of settling for something that's just fine. Whether you're booking for yourself, your partner, or a high maintenance group chat, booking.com makes it easy to get it right. If a state can check all of our boxes, it can check anyone's. Find exactly what you're booking for. Booking.com booking.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Book today on the site or in the app.

[Host 3]

So, moving right along, let's get into the meat of the matter. Let's truly begin formally. Justin Baldoni versus Blake Lively, Part nine. Chandler, where should we start here?

[Host 1]

I think we have to begin with the Jenny Slate deposition.

[Host 3]

Okay, great.

[Host 1]

That is just. It's a huge document. We're not going to read every single page, but we, we must get through that. I think that's the most critical.

[Host 3]

That's the most critical.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 3]

So I want to just ground everyone a little bit briefly. And where we were leading up to this, which is it was very much a he said, she said situation. We really didn't know who was telling the truth. Like, was Justin Baldoni creepy and weird or did Blake Lively just create the smear campaign to, you know, completely annihilate his career, usurp the film and get all the accolades herself? We didn't know him. We've been saying, like, we need a neutral third party. We need witnesses. Well, we finally have behind closed doors what Jenny Slate said about what occurred on set.

[Host 1]

Yeah. And she doesn't go through every single thing. You know, we're not going to go through the entire two year timeline and give Jenny Slate's take on everything that happened. She doesn't do that in her deposition. But there are a few moments that I think are telling.

[Host 3]

No, I completely agree. So let's dive right in. I mean, I think the very beginning when they kind of ask her about the conversation during that scene. And this is, this is the scene that's so pivotal. Right. It's the scene where they're at the bar and Blake was in like a bodysuit underneath a blazer. And Justin, according to Blake, praised her appearance and said she looked hot. Right. So that is really at the core of Blake Lively sexual harassment allegations is this one moment and we've said other people were there.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Okay, so I'm.

[Host 1]

Why don't I just start Reading this. Do you want a popcorn or.

[Host 3]

Yeah, let's. Let's popcorn. So I'm just gonna all be. Do you want to be Jenny Slate or do you want to be the attorney?

[Host 1]

I can be either.

[Host 3]

Okay. Be the attorney.

[Host 1]

Okay. So this PDF from the, you know, court records, it's not exactly perfect. They don't give us every single, you know, page. So sometimes, like, the questions kind of begin and you don't know where. Where they were right before this. Right. So just kind of bear with us. So we're going to begin with this question that says what conversation had occurred.

[Host 3]

So Jenny Slate says, before this text exchange, there was a conversation on set where I felt that something inappropriate happened and I mentioned it.

[Host 1]

Can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on? What was the inappropriate thing that you felt had happened?

[Host 3]

We were in, in my memory, getting ready to shoot, and Blake and I and Justin were on set, and he mentioned that she looked, I can't remember the order of it, but sexy and then hot or hot and then sexy or that her look was sexy or hot. And I remember her saying something like, that's not what I'm going for. And then he tried another modifier, either hot or sexy. Again, I forgot the order. And I remember her saying something like, not that either. And I then said to Justin something like, you know, I was recently talking to a friend about how comments about actors bodies and their wardrobes. And again, this is paraphrasing, but it ranged from irrelevant or unnecessary to like, inappropriate and distracting. But it's, you know, can be a little awkward to call it out, but, like, we're just not doing this anymore. And I felt that I needed to say that because that's how I felt. And I didn't want. Want to speak for Blake because I didn't know her well at the time, but we, you know, I can only speak for myself. So generally, Justin seemed that he didn't like that I said that because he sort of like walked away in a huff and then came back and said something like, the reason why I use the word hot is because it's hot in here. So that's the situation as I remember it.

[Host 1]

So the attorney asked, did you believe him?

[Host 3]

Did I believe him?

[Host 1]

And then there's an objection. And the attorney reass that the reason he used the term hot was because it was hot in there.

[Host 3]

And Jenny says no.

[Host 1]

The attorney then asked, what did you think of that comment? I was disappointed by it. Did it sound to you like he was making an excuse that was not truthful.

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

And why is that?

[Host 3]

Well, I was there. I heard the descriptor used in the context that it was used.

[Host 1]

Did you feel that you understood the meaning of what he was saying when he said it? And then there's an objection.

[Host 3]

There's some objections, but basically, she says she does.

[Host 1]

Yeah. And then there's so much here. And then the attorney says, did you feel that it was about her character or her.

[Host 3]

I felt that it was about her body was Jenny's response. So one thing I really want to point out, because there are so many people who just will never see air in Justin Baldoni and are firmly anti Blake and will say, clearly, Jenny Sleet is trying to, you know, be friends with Blake Lively, and she's being pressured or coerced. She knows their power in Hollywood. That's why she's giving this deposition. And I just think that when Shenny says, we weren't close at the time, but she still felt the need to speak up about the way Justin was talking to Blake, clearly this interaction did go down exactly as Blake said it went down.

[Host 1]

And I also believe that the fact that she kind of gives this explanation where she says, like, I know it can be awkward to bring it up. It's. You know, but we're just not doing that anymore. She kind of, I think, does it. And as polite and as, like, non. Yeah. She's not trying to be a dick to him or to make him feel dumb. Yeah. But she's just like, hey, we're just, like, not doing that anymore. Like, yeah, Even though it's awkward to bring up, I. I feel like she. She handles us in a. In a good way in person and in real time.

[Host 3]

No, she absolutely does. And I think that she's just trying to tell him, like, hey, these comments are inappropriate. Maybe you haven't gotten the message or the memo, but we're not doing this anymore. And I just think the fact that she felt the need to do that and that she did this in this moment before anything really has before, like, Blake has usurped the film or whatever. I just think it. It's an indictment of Justin Baldoni.

[Host 1]

I mean, and then we see that there is footage.

[Host 3]

There's.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 3]

There's actual footage of this exact moment. And let's play the footage. Yeah.

[Host 2]

All right. We should go.

[Host 3]

Ready?

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

All right.

[Host 3]

Do you have a toothpick?

[Host 1]

Yeah, right here.

[Host 3]

Thank you.

[Host 1]

Okay, so it's a little muffled because they were obviously not trying to film this exact interaction that happens. So we see him look at Blake and he says, I think it's hot. I think it looks hot. We don't hear what Blake says. And then he says the word sexy. He is, like, looking at her. He appears to be, like, looking at what she's wearing. Looking at her. It does not read to me like he is talking about the temperature of the room.

[Host 3]

Not even close.

[Host 1]

Like, not even close. And that is what I believed a year ago that he was talking about the fact that the room was hot.

[Host 3]

So I want to play this again really quickly, and I want to pause after he says sexy.

[Host 2]

All right, we should go.

[Host 1]

Ready?

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

All right.

[Host 1]

Her face. She's a little taken aback.

[Host 3]

She literally.

[Host 1]

The micro expression.

[Host 3]

It's a micro expression, but it's like this guy. Like, it's so. It's like, this is so awkward, and this is so annoying.

[Host 1]

Okay, so, yeah, there's the micro expression from the P.A. then Justin says, you have something in your teeth. And he then calls out, like, can we get a toothpick? And then he says something like. He says, jenny said. And then we don't know the rest of the sentence.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And then we literally hear him say, I'm sorry, I must have missed the sexual harassment training.

[Host 3]

Just in the flippant, dismissive I. And he rolls his eyes way that Blake said. He said it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

I think that it's going to be very difficult to square the narrative that Justin Baldoni is completely innocent with this video, with this literal evidence.

[Host 1]

I mean, I think his. Yeah, his camp definitely somehow thinks that, you know, Blake was using the word sexy.

[Host 3]

Oh, yeah. Well, not. That is true. Blake did make innuendos.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Right.

[Host 3]

Blake said never with teeth.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Blake did seem effusively to text him. And at moments, there wasn't. There was, like.

[Host 1]

There was playful, like, innuendos. Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

And.

[Host 3]

And there were moments where Blake kissed him more times than was in the script. So it's. It's tricky. It's really tricky. I. It's funny. I just kind of think that my ultimate conclusion, and I'm just gonna give it now, is that they are both awful. That she is a malignant narcissist who completely took over the movie. She basically hijacked the film. Use this. You basically use this as a reason to do so. Just because you. The director makes, you know, makes a sexually harassing comment, that doesn't mean you get to be the director.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

That doesn't mean you get to edit the film. That doesn't mean you get to hire your own people. You hire your own editors. And fire all the editors. I think they're both. I literally think they're both guilty of what they've been accused of.

[Host 1]

I don't know if I believe the fact that he did, like, sexual assault in the way that, like, there was like unimprovised kissing or something. Like, I felt like.

[Host 3]

Do you think the 10 minute scene where he's like dragging, you know, where she said he.

[Host 1]

I, like, that was all in character. I did not feel like that was him trying to. Yeah, that to me, that, that, that's all on video too. That to me felt very black and white watching it. But I do believe that there was sexual harassment. I mean, I, I think too, I have to say, it only takes one comment from somebody who you shouldn't be making comments about you to make you feel uncomfortable and to change the dynamic, you know, and then if, and then if that person doubles down and says, sorry, I must have missed the sexual harassment training. Like, this is not important to me is what that says. And then also when this person is a feminist, is like, I understand about.

[Host 3]

How he's, you know, a champion of women and he should be a person who is all about speaking in the right way, all about being PC and.

[Host 1]

Just honestly, he should be more sensitive. I mean, we're going to get to this other part where he says, I can say this because my wife is here. So let's go. Let's move on. We're gonna start on page 51 with the questions around line 6. When you say his inappropriate comments, you mentioned the hot and sexy comments to Ms. Lively. Were there any comments to you that you felt were inappropriate at the time?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

And this is from Mr. Baldoni? Yes. What did he say to you that you felt was inappropriate?

[Host 3]

He said something like, I can say this because my wife is here, but you look sexy in what you're wearing.

[Host 1]

Foreign.

[Host 3]

It's just not appropriate to tell. I mean, this is now my commentary. This is not.

[Host 1]

The attorney breaks in.

[Host 3]

Yeah, but it's just, it's never appropriate for your boss to tell you that you look sexy and to say I'm. Because what he's saying is I'm sexually attracted to you.

[Host 1]

And I think it's even more malignant that he's like, my wife is here, so, you know, it's totally above board. And this isn't weird. This, this will make it less weird for you because my wife is here and she's okay with this.

[Host 3]

It's truly so strange. And I am dying to know Emily Baldoni's real experience with this guy. Because how. Imagine Ben or Kagan.

[Host 1]

I had the same thought. I was like, I wanted to ask you that exact same question. Can you imagine if Kagan said that?

[Host 3]

I literally can't fathom it. And I would be so upset.

[Host 1]

I think it just reveals the way he thinks he can actually talk to women.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And what they want to hear.

[Host 3]

It goes back to. There are some men who are just, I think so pornified and driven by sexuality or whatever that they really actually don't they. They only see women through a sexual lens and they think that their, like, appraisal of a women, of a woman being fuckable or not or all of that in their eyes, they do deem her to be such. You should tell her because she's going to want to hear that because that's the most important thing.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host 3]

And so it's like this really sick, depraved mindset and they don't really see women as full people.

[Host 1]

Yeah. I mean, like, I. I don't know. I'm not gonna go so far as to be like, he doesn't. I don't know. I just, I. I can't reconcile the guy who is supposedly this TED talker ally with a guy who says, you know, you know, Ben's not giving TED talks on women's rights, but he would never say something like. Like never like we've said. I just can't reconcile the two.

[Host 3]

So then the lawyer says.

[Host 1]

And then the lawyer says, and what about that did you feel is inappropriate?

[Host 3]

I. Jenny says, I would say it breaks a pretty well understood norm to comment give your personal opinion on someone's body slash looks when you say a.

[Host 1]

Pretty well understood norm. Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by that?

[Host 3]

Sort of like what I said previously in the situation that I described between Blake and Justin and I, I assumed there was an understanding that we're not doing this anymore. It's not appropriate anymore. It never was appropriate. But it's not appropriate in a workplace.

[Host 1]

And even on a film set, in any workplace. Is it the case that your physical appearance is an element of acting?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

And is it the case that you felt it was inappropriate in this workplace, even though your physical appearance is an element of acting?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

And why is that?

[Host 3]

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.

[Host 1]

Did you feel that same way about the comments Mr. Baldoni made to Ms. Lively that you Described earlier?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Did you feel that Mr. Baldoni was sexualizing you?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Did you say anything to Mr. Baldoni at the time when he made the sexy comment to you?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

What did you say?

[Host 3]

I was surprised and bummed out, sort of lightly stunned. And I think I said something like, yeah, it's a good look.

[Host 1]

So kind of deflecting it, you know, not. It's not about her. It's like, the outfit's good.

[Host 3]

Right.

[Host 1]

Did you tell him that you didn't like the comment?

[Host 3]

I did not.

[Host 1]

And why did you not do that at the time?

[Host 3]

I didn't feel comfortable.

[Host 1]

Why not?

[Host 3]

Because I think it was either my first or second day on set. He was my boss, and I just wanted to do my work and leave.

[Host 1]

Going back to the text chain and Ms. Lively's response to you, she says in the second line, I'm sorry for what you've experienced, and I wish I would have been there to witness it for you. Was Ms. Lively not present when Mr. Baldoni made the sexy comment to you?

[Host 3]

I don't remember her being there.

[Host 1]

Okay. So another part of this deposition that they kind of lightly touch on in a few places is that after Justin is called out for these comments, after he's kind of rebuffed, he changes. Like, his dynamic changes and he huffs. He, like, either kind of storms off or leaves in a huff. And we find out that he, you know, came back to that bar scene where he had called Blake Lively hot, and he says, I only said that because it was hot in here.

[Host 3]

Right. Yeah.

[Host 1]

And. And that, like, the energy on the set changes, and there's an exchange between Blake and Jenny. Or they're like, funky day today, you know? And so anyway, and I think that's also pretty telling that he can't just, like, kind of snap out of it and be like, okay, I made a mistake. I'm a course correcting.

[Host 3]

Right, Right.

[Host 1]

It's like his ego is bruised.

[Host 3]

Yeah. He has to punish everyone after he's called out. And I just think the fact that they were corresponding about the set being weird and things being off and it just being difficult to work, it. It corroborates, again, Blake's side of the story.

[Host 1]

Yeah. So I really do think they are both right in their claims, But I think what is going to trial because Justin's case was dismissed is what he's accused of.

[Host 3]

Yeah, exactly. So.

[Host 1]

And that's, you know, that's where it's like, we can. We can say he's right. And also, she's right. Right.

[Host 3]

Or they're both right and they're both on the wrong.

[Host 1]

Correct.

[Host 3]

By virtue of the fact that they're both right.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

So I want to talk about a. Something that she told her agent. So this is a question from the attorney to her about, you know, what she communicated to her agent of what was going on at the time. And so the attorney says, and then you go on to tell your agent that this week was really intense for a few reasons. She's quoting her. She's quoting Jenny's text message. This week was really intense for a few reasons. It's, like, fascinating and also so shitty. Justin and Jamie 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. So she's telling her agent what she's witnessing, which, again, is that they're basically clowns. They're doofuses. That is correct. And she doesn't feel scared or unsafe, but it's deeply irritating and repulsive.

[Host 1]

She's. She's over this movie.

[Host 3]

Yeah, she's done. So the attorney says, is there anything that was occurring on set other than the incidents that you have described? And Jenny responds, and she says, other than what I've described, I'm not exactly sure, like, how to answer that honestly. I think what I described are the issues other than, you know, covet and the strike. The general chaos that he sort of described in the behavior that was described here. I think that's. I think that's that. And the attorney responds and says, and this reflects your feelings that you were having at the time accurately? Jenny says, yes. And her agent responds, are you okay to continue? Um, so then Jenny says that she's okay to keep going. And she says to her agent, 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 Jamie freak me out. Like, they tell me really weird lies. And Justin is astoundingly wrongheaded. So the attorney says, when they tell you really weird lies, what did you have in mind at that moment? Jenny says, I don't recall. So then the attorney continues, and then you said, I really don't get how he did a TED Talk. He is worse than most of 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 nos. And then the attorney asks, like, what do you mean by that? And she says, the defensiveness of that sort of huffy behavior, the inappropriate behavior, those types of things. Things. This guy does seem like a complete nightmare.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And. And I go back to where our head was at last year. I think we. We believed and we were told from his side of the story that he was just trying to do his job. He was just trying to make this film that was so important, so important to him. And that. Yeah. And that. That she was the nightmare. And I now believe, like, you know, that they were both nightmares.

[Host 3]

Absolutely.

[Host 1]

In their own way.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Okay. I feel like fiber and protein are suddenly the main characters of everyone's New Year goals. And honest, mostly same. I'm trying to eat in a way that actually supports my day, but I refuse to give up foods that I love. Enter Herobread. What I love is how easy it is to swap herobread into my normal rotation. Bagel sandwiches, avocado toast, tacos, burger night. Nothing changes except the macros. Hero makes sliced bread, tortillas, buns and bagels. So I don't have to rethink meals I already love. It just fits. And taste wise, I was genuinely surprised. It's soft, fluffy, and doesn't have that something's off texture. A lot of better for you breads do. I'm making grilled cheese with soup, breakfast wraps, and even nostalgic PB and js. And it all tastes exactly how I want it to. Herobread helps me get more fiber and protein while keeping net carbs low. Some products have as little as 0 to 5 grams net carbs per serving and 0 grams sugar. No compromises, just flavor. This year, hit your goals without giving up your favorite bready dishes. HeroBread is offering 10% off your order. Go to Hero Co and use code POP at checkout. That's POP and at HRO Co. Okay, new year, new intentions. But let's be honest. I'm not trying to spend January eating sad salads or staring into the fridge like it has personally betrayed me. I want a reset that actually feels doable. That's why we're partnering with Marley Spoon.

[Host 3]

I love that it takes all the.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Thinking out of eating.

[Host 1]

Well.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

You pick from over 100 recipes each week, and suddenly you're cooking real meals that taste amazing without the mental spiral of meal planning. And for nights when dinner needs to happen immediately, their prepared meals are clutch. Zero shame. Full flavor on the table in minutes. I absolutely have loved using Marley Spoon for me, there's something so nice about being able to just have the ingredients and make a home cooked meal without going to the grocery store, without having to figure out what I'm going to make myself, create a shopping list. All of that will work is done for me and I can just do the enjoyable part, which is cooking in my kitchen and serving a beautiful meal for me and my husband. Marley Spoon makes cooking at home feel fun again and way less stressful this new year. Fast track your way to eating well with Marley spoon. Head to marley spoon.com offer pop for up to 25 free meals. That's marley spoon.com offer pop marley spoon meals reimagined for life.

[Host 3]

There's one more moment I want to get to on page 89, line 15. And this is just them talking about him being huffy, which I just think is kind of interesting. So the attorney says.

[Host 1]

So the attorney Sundays. And then Ms. Lively says, he was so huffy after the sexy thing, I felt awful for saying something. Was that consistent with your experience?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

And then if you Skip down to 3:28am Ms. Lively says, what you said though, is very self aware. Neither of us are people who can't take a joke or who can't work or understand Blue. We're not that fragile. You just can't record people without asking. You can't speak to people sexually while not in character or while talking about the character. And if you overstep, you move on. It's the weirdness after that makes it feel bad. Like if we speak up, the vibes on set get funky and the work suffers.

[Host 3]

So these are texts while they are actually filming. Right. And I think that there is this narrative that before the press tour, like Blake did a internal smear campaign to turn everyone against Justin. Right. And she shared what had happened to her and, or you know what she says it happened to her. And that was kind of the narrative and she got everyone on her side and she kind of implied, hey, I'm going to do the next book with Colleen. Do you want to be in the movie?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And no, they're actually talking in the moment about what they're experiencing and Jenny is completely agreeing about, you know, the fact that he is making them uncomfortable. Jenny is absolutely like corroborating this.

[Host 1]

Yeah, I mean, I think that it's clear from this that Blake was not the only person who was did not like working with him. And that's what we were waiting just to hear.

[Host 3]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

You know, I mean, and we do have that like Message, I think, from Isabella to him about, you know, thanks for making my first film so comfortable. But now she's kind of gone back.

[Host 3]

So she's come back and she said that basically he made a comment to the person who plays young Atlas and he said, you should really try to get to know Isabel, like, kind of with a wink, like you should hook up with her. Oh, yeah. Okay. And she obviously felt that was super inappropriate. Yeah. But for some reason he thought that that would be good for his character and important for the performance to hook up with his co star.

[Host 1]

He is just totally making inappropriate comments. Yeah.

[Host 3]

And again, it's like he's one of these guys that he. All he wants to do is sexualize women that are around him or that seems to be maybe not all he wants to do. And maybe he does see women as.

[Host 1]

Human, but he does it constantly.

[Host 3]

He does it constantly.

[Host 1]

He does it way more than anybody should.

[Host 3]

It's bizarre.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's bizarre for a guy who also wants to be like, number one ally.

[Host 3]

Exactly. Who wants to be, like, winning awards for championing the cause of, like, women and their lived experiences.

[Host 1]

Yeah. We have other messages to read. We have the messages from Blake and Ryan to Matt and Lucy Damon. And I think these are. And I think these are, like, pretty juicy for me.

[Host 3]

I think Jenny Slate's deposition, it corroborates what Blake said. Now, I think when I read all of these emails from. From Blake Lively or text messages between her and other Hollywood A listers basically trying to get their support to take over this film, it corroborates Justin's side.

[Host 1]

She's like, smearing him behind the scenes.

[Host 3]

She is smearing sparing him, and she is trying to leverage all of her connections for this hostile takeover. And again, it's like, he is weird. He is creepy. He's making weird comments. There's no actual, you know, there's no accusation of actual sexual assault.

[Host 1]

Yeah. I mean, I don't know if the.

[Host 3]

Kissing, it's sexual harassment.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

The kissing out of character maybe is where the line get. Get, you know, blurred. But even if there was, that's when you leave the movie. Like, that still doesn't make you the CEO of the film. Yeah, that happens to you.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

This.

[Host 1]

These messages show, I think, the. The power struggle that they are really, like, spearheading and just like.

[Host 3]

Yeah. And the way that Ryan is really is like her, you know, co conspirator and right beside her leveraging all of his, like, all of his power.

[Host 1]

I mean, I can see Blake seeing this Whole situation as this is annoying. I don't like this. This is uncomfortable. I am going to use this as my ticket.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

To make this my own thing. This is now mine. This is mine because you've, you've offended me. You've made me uncomfortable. It's mine now.

[Host 3]

It's my directorial debut.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Yeah. This is my film.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Okay. So these messages to Matt and Lucy Damon, Lucy's obviously Matt Damon's wife. Happen in May of 2024. I'm just gonna consult our handy timeline and tell everyone where we're at. In May of 2024. So this is when Blake is, you know, full steam saying, this is my cut. We're going to use this cut. So she, you know, on May 2nd, my wedding anniversary, she stored Sony to allow her full control of her own cut of the film. On May 13, they do the official screening test, but Justin's test better. And then, you know, it's just like this. It's this Bake off as they call it. So I don't know when they ran into the Damons, I kind of feel like maybe they're both on vacation or something.

[Host 3]

I think they're clearly vacationing in the same place.

[Host 1]

Yeah. But we don't know where that is.

[Host 3]

I, I feel like somewhere in, just north of New York.

[Host 1]

Okay. Yeah. Why do you know that?

[Host 3]

Some said some send some intel that they have some sort of like vacation somewhere.

[Host 1]

In my mind's eye I believe that these famous people, you know, they all ran into each other.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And then Ryan, you know, is like, well we should maybe we did talk to them about what's going on. So maybe we should send a follow up email.

[Host 3]

So Ryan says, hey, Matt and Lucy, if the offer is still open to watch the movie, picks will work great. Easiest ways to log into Blake's account whenever you're ready. If you text her, she can give you the login and code and you're in. And again, this is such a zero pressure ask. We know how important family time is when you're up in X, Y or Z. So no worries either way. We'd love to get your well earned pov. And if you or girls want to see it on the big screen at Blake's family and friends Screening Saturday at 6pm they're obviously most welcome. This movie has been one of the all time zingers on and off set. One day we'll make a movie about the movie and we can't wait to tell you all about it. The stories are already finding their place in the pantheon of legendary Hollywood insanity. We're about to be off for at least a year and a half. Maybe two years, Maybe forever. Let's play pickleball.

[Host 1]

Okay then. Blake. Ads. So I guess this is a group text. Not. No, no, it is an email.

[Host 3]

Yeah, and you're right, it is a. It's a group text. And the reason that I can see that is they start rapid fire responding.

[Host 1]

Yeah, yeah. But once again, all of these are so long.

[Host 3]

Yeah, so long it's.

[Host 1]

It's confusing. Okay, so Blake adds Blake here, adding more zeros to the pressure. Thank you for even considering. And it's not a bad movie, so who knows, you may just enjoy some of it.

[Host 3]

Wrong. Wrong.

[Host 1]

Be warned, be warned. It covers domestic violence in key places, so just want to make sure. You know, this movie nearly killed me. The director, slash co star, slash producer, slash financier, slash head of the studio. Yes, all one person had zero experience. But the good news is he also had no taste and an enormous ego. But only because he's in a cult and believes he's our centuries prophet. I wish even one of these things was hyperbole. Anyway, juicy stuff I told him on day one after so much shit had already gone down. I don't need anything from you. I don't need you to guide me or make me feel good. I've got me. All I need from you is I just need you to not make me feel like that's it. I've got the rest. And that became true. What I didn't anticipate was having to do everything in this movie. I rewrote the entire script, I directed every actor. The DP was coming to me when he couldn't get anything from him. So way too often then after all this, Justin wouldn't even bring me into the edit. He had no idea what he had because he didn't author any of it. They gave me 10 days to scrap together an edit to compete with an edit he's been making since July. I've been sleeping about an hour and a half each night because that's obviously not enough time. So I've just been gunning it. We're in a bake off now. Which will happen in 12 days. This weekend screening is my chance to get the first and only feedback on my cut before the bake Off. Anyway, it's all the drama that was the headline of the Gossip, not even the good stuff. Way too much info. And like Ryan said, zero. Zero pressure. Except the pickleball heart. There's significant pressure there okay, one thing.

[Host 3]

I just have to say, and this comes up in the Ben Affleck email as well. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck. These are, like, pretty serious people in the film industry. This is an Adam Sandler. You know, as much as I. I.

[Host 1]

Mean, Adam Sandler's, like, very serious.

[Host 3]

No, he is. But I think that there's something more rarefied about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and the projects that he works on, I mean, than Adam Sandler. Is that wrong to say?

[Host 1]

Well, I don't know. I think, like, they are just like esteemed people in Hollywood.

[Host 3]

Correct.

[Host 1]

These are not doofuses.

[Host 3]

There's something so funny to me about her thinking that, like, this film is so good and people are gonna watch it. She wants to send it to people who, like, make their. Their life's work creating cinema. There's just something so laughable, like, you know what I would die for?

[Host 1]

What?

[Host 3]

Joe Allen, who we know has is like such a cinephile and such, like a film snob. I really need him to do a reaction YouTube video to it ends with us. Please, the money I would pay for that.

[Host 1]

At the very least, his letterboxd.

[Host 3]

Let's start a GoFundMe or a Change.org petition. Let's crowdsource the funds to get Joe to do it.

[Host 1]

Absolutely.

[Host 3]

I mean, because this movie is so corny.

[Host 1]

I mean, I think to the fact that you're like, there's zero pressure. But can you please watch this movie in your spare time?

[Host 3]

I was.

[Host 1]

It is kind of like a big ass.

[Host 3]

No, I mean, she says Bradley watched it twice at she. She really lays on the pressure thick with Ben Affleck while telling him there's no pressure. Yeah, no, we're going to send you, like, huge blocks of text messages. But there's no pressure. I'm just adding zeros to the pressure. Yeah, you were adding on the pressure. Okay. So Lucy Damon responds, and she says, we'd love to watch your movie tomorrow. I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience doing a job you love. We're around all weekend for pickleball. Are you guys?

[Host 1]

And then Matt says, we'll give you any help we can. And if this experience hasn't totally destroyed your soul, Blake, you should come direct your next movie at artist Equity. We're kind of like a cult, but a really nice one.

[Host 3]

Blake says, where do I sign?

[Host 1]

Matt says, I'm looking forward to seeing his work.

[Host 3]

And then Blake says, I can get it on your picks, but politically, it's the cleanest if you just log into mine, if you have any sense of when you watch it whenever, you know, I'll just call you with a login and two factor code.

[Host 1]

Lucy says, of course we're happy to watch and hopeful. Be helpful. Let's talk tomorrow.

[Host 3]

It's just like, can you imagine your vacation being hijacked in this way?

[Host 1]

Let's give notes.

[Host 3]

It's like we're up here spending, you know, we're doing family time. We got to spend this afternoon watching a corny B level movie about, about domestic violence too. Like, who wants to watch that on vacation?

[Host 1]

Bring your kids to the screening. I mean, she does say, like, fair warning, but yeah, I mean, we also. This is why we know that they were just like, let's just send an email to the studio head and say, like, make Blake's cut go through.

[Host 3]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

Okay, so that continues. I think it's interesting that she says politically, it's easier if you just log in with mine.

[Host 3]

Yeah. So clearly they don't want to alert him that they're having Hollywood A list. Yes. Watch it.

[Host 1]

So Blake says, politically, because this man is also the head of the studio, My life. Sony is distributing and looking for every reason to not use his cut.

[Host 3]

And then she says, thank you so, so much. Blake says that? And Lucy replies, it's insane the power this guy has had with no experience to back him. And Blake responds, and she said, it's all his cult money and backing. Wild stuff.

[Host 1]

Lucy then says, like Matt said, artist equity from now on. No need for weird cult money.

[Host 3]

Ryan chimes in and says, several weeks before shooting, right after Blake had given birth to our son, this guy called our trainer Don and asked him, how much do you think Blake will weigh in two weeks? Don got very Long island all of a sudden and Justin backtracked. He said, I'm only asking because I have to carry her in a scene and I have low bone, low bone density.

[Host 1]

Lucy says, sorry, but what the actual. He's dead?

[Host 3]

Blake says it was actually two weeks before. When pressed even further, he said he needed to train to adjust his bone density because to circle back, he has low bone density. He also told me last year that he speaks to my father often. He hopes I don't mind. My father died three years ago.

[Host 1]

Lucy. What? I'm fascinated by this creep. I think you should make a movie about this guy.

[Host 3]

I literally already have the name of the doc. Lights. Cult action.

[Host 1]

Ryan then says, right, I've never seen anything like it. A malignantly vain, sociopathic foaminist. With almost no sense of boundaries or shame. I cannot believe he hasn't gone to jail or returned to the sun. Just spell vain wrong.

[Host 3]

Okay. There's just so much here. The fact that Justin Baldoni told Blake Lively, according to her, that he talks to her. Her dead father often.

[Host 1]

Yeah, we, we've discussed this.

[Host 3]

I, I forgot that I never remember the.

[Host 1]

The often remember, like the weird story he told her. Like I was leaving my house.

[Host 3]

No, yes, I remember that your dad.

[Host 1]

Said he still owed you like 2020 or something.

[Host 3]

No, I just didn't know that. I. I thought that was like a one time thing. I didn't realize that he was con. You know, had near constant communication with her dead father. Yeah, that part is new info to me.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

So weird.

[Host 1]

Super weird. I think. You know what? Even if one person told me one time that they were communing with dead relatives, like, I. I think it was weird.

[Host 3]

Yes. Okay. But also just going back to like Blake and her interactions with them. They're clearly trying to get them on board to talk to Sony because she says Sony's distributing and looking for every reason not to use his cut.

[Host 1]

Sony just needs more reasons.

[Host 3]

Yeah, maybe you could provide a reason.

[Host 1]

Yeah. And I mean, it's crazy now seeing the behind the scenes with Sony.

[Host 3]

And it is rumored that Matt Damon did send an email.

[Host 1]

That's what I'm saying. I've seen that too.

[Host 3]

Oh, have you seen the actual email? I don't think we.

[Host 1]

No, I think it's just rumored that like they didn't watch it or I don't think they went to the screening, but that they sent an email.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Pop Apologist is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are the things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Because Progressive offers discounts for paying in full, owning a home and more. Plus you can count on their great customer service to help you when you need it. So your dollar goes a long way. Visit progressive.com to to see if you could save on car insurance. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. I have to say I'm so thrilled Skims is a sponsor of the podcast because I just absolutely love everything they do. Little did we know how much we needed a shaper company that was going to create amazing bras, amazing underwear, T shirts, pajamas.

[Host 3]

Everything is elevated.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

The fabrications are always so high quality and the feel is so soft and comfortable. When I'm buying from Skims I always know the product is going to be excellent. My current obsession is the fits everybody Lace dip thong in the Scoop Bralette. The thong is lightweight. It never loses its shape and stays invisible under everything without digging into your skin, which honestly feels like a miracle.

[Host 3]

The scoop Bralette.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

It's comfy, it's flattering, it gives just enough support and it feels like something you forget you're wearing in the best way. Shop my favorite bras and [e-mail] after you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show in the drop down menu that follows.

[Host 3]

And if you are looking for the.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Perfect gift for your valentine or for yourself, the Skims Valentine's shop is now open.

[Host 1]

So now let's get into Blake's email to Ben Affleck. If everyone will remember there, there is apparently lore here that on the, you know, set of the town, Blake and Ben Affleck hooked up and that potentially caused like the demise of Jennifer Garner. I mean, I think Ben had also cheated before then, probably knowing him. But there's lore here.

[Host 3]

Can I tell you, like a very unhinged take I have on.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 3]

Okay. So the, the email opens up. I'm only gonna read the first three lines, but she says, ben, it's Blake. Like, don't hang up. I hope life is treating you beautifully. I think the phrase I hope life is treating you beautifully is something you would only say to an ex.

[Host 1]

Yes.

[Host 3]

Okay. You agree?

[Host 1]

I totally. I think the opening is very strong. Like, this is an ex. This is somebody I hooked up with.

[Host 3]

Totally.

[Host 1]

Then it's Blake, don't hang up.

[Host 3]

Why would she, why would you say.

[Host 1]

That if it was just like a friend?

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Like, there's a history there. Yes.

[Host 3]

And then saying, I hope life is treating you beautifully. That's like something you say that to say, like, I'm all good. I hope life is good for you.

[Host 1]

And even more. She goes on to talk about Ryan. She says Ryan was going on and on about you recently amongst all the other blank chaos. He was blown away by you, though he was equally as effusive about your Dunkin commercial. So, you know, you have a Canadian fan club in my house and a Burbank one too. She's then saying, my husband knows about you. We're all good. Like, I think it's like, there's no hard feelings here. We all are obsessed with you.

[Host 3]

It's, you know, well, but, but Brian, obviously she was with at the time who was she with again?

[Host 1]

I don't remember who she was.

[Host 3]

Penn Badgley.

[Host 1]

I believe maybe. Yeah. That they met when they were Penn Badgley.

[Host 3]

So Ryan obviously would be all good with him because he doesn't care. Like oh yeah.

[Host 1]

But I'm just saying it's like I don't know. To bring up her husband so quickly. Talking about him just means that like we're all good.

[Host 3]

Interesting. It's not like this is a sanctioned email.

[Host 1]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And like. And he's not weird about the fact that you're one of my exes.

[Host 3]

Okay, this is so crazy. So. So she says I'm writing with a zero pressure ask. I've just come out the other side. Well, almost of the most upsetting experience I've ever had on a movie. The making of doc of this film would be more interesting than the movie could ever be. It's like with Wild Wild Country Fire Festival and going Clear Had a baby with the room. Room also works though. Anyway, I ended up rewriting and restructuring the entire script. I also ended up having to direct the movie via the chaotic clown director in quotes. Director, actor, producer, financier, studio head at the center. Yes, that's all the same person. Oh, and did I mention he and everyone he had on the movie is in a cult. If I would have just formally directed it, it would have been much easier. But having to troubleshoot through his taste, ego and pre existing decisions made it so difficult. And that's not even touching on any of the wild HR issues and beyond. Anyway, now I'm in a bake off with him in the edit. He's been editing since I kid you not July and they gave me 10 days to do my own path. We have a bake off in 12 days. But I have a friends and family preview in New York on Saturday in the meantime so I can get one round of notes or feedback before we duke it out. If you have 1 hour and 58 minutes of free time at any time in the next few days, it's like a big ask. It's a huge ass. Huge movie. And give note. A two hour movie and give notes in the next few days.

[Host 1]

We barely even want to like edit our clips.

[Host 3]

So true. Would you be willing to watch a movie and give me any ideas or notes? I will pics it to you. You can literally text me a voice memo so you don't have to formally write thoughts if your wife or kids are around. I'd also love their opinion. FYI it does cover domestic violence so no one is caught off guard. I'm such a fan of Jennifer's. I've told her as much every time I've met her. It'll be an honor to have her take.

[Host 1]

Wait, hold on. Why? I. Something that's never made sense to me is why does she say if your wife or kids are around, Is he married to JLO at this point?

[Host 3]

That's. So that's what he's. She's saying. Yes, he's married to jlo.

[Host 1]

Yeah, but is she talking about she's such a fan of JLo's.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Okay. Some people are saying it's Jennifer Garner maybe because, you know, two, two big Jennifers in his life.

[Host 3]

Okay, so this all went down in 2020.

[Host 1]

There's no way she's. She's. There's no way she.

[Host 3]

Jennifer Garner was too long ago that man.

[Host 1]

Of course, of course. I just think it's weird, but I also am like, was this. When did Jlo and Ben break up? Were they fully married and ensconced?

[Host 3]

He was doing the pap walks during COVID with Anna de Armas. Ana de Armas. But then this. Didn't this movie filming take place during.

[Host 1]

COVID I mean, this email. Let's just see when this email was sent. May 17, 2024.

[Host 3]

Let me just correct the record. This movie did not film during COVID That's incorrect. So, yeah, this was during his marriage to Jennifer. Okay.

[Host 1]

Anyway, we can move on. I talked with that. That I was wondering about that.

[Host 3]

Okay, again, zero pressure. I just really want this to work out. After all I put into it, this movie nearly killed me. And I can think of very few people who would be as prescriptive and insightful as I know you'd be. Okay, this is my favorite part. Ryan asked Matt to watch also, so I think he's watching this weekend. Good men showing up. I'm beyond grateful for that. Also, can you believe Jason Bourne is watching my movie? I'll get you an autograph one day. Don't worry if you're reading. If you're still reading this. Whoa. You're not nearly as busy as you think or you're a very nice person sending you all the best always. Xx b87.

[Host 1]

Like, why signing it with your birth year. Is that our birth year?

[Host 3]

He must have called her 87 on.

[Host 1]

I don't know. Let's go back to the fact that she's saying, you know, Matt's already watching, so it's like your, your best friend's already watching already. Kind of like in this this. In this endeavor with me.

[Host 3]

Well, I think it's. I think when she says good men showing up. So if you're. If you're, you know, a good man, you're gonna show up.

[Host 1]

Yeah. Like your friend Matt Damon. I mean, that's putting so much pressure. How desperate do you have to be to write an email to your ex? I'm sorry. If this podcast was, like, on his last leg and we needed, like, one more download just so I could, like, put food on the table, I wouldn't email my ex.

[Host 3]

I could be on the brink of homelessness with my children. Okay, I'm not emailing my ex. It's time to go to REI and get a 10, bitches. Okay, that's what I'm telling my. That's what I'm telling my husband and my daughters, because we are not emailing my ex boyfriend for help. Like, are you kidding me?

[Host 1]

Does it also reveal just a level of confidence that she has?

[Host 3]

Well, in delusion. She's so delusional about this film. That's what's scary is because. But it's such a corny movie, and.

[Host 1]

Then you want your ex to watch it and be like, I just want this to work after all that I put into it.

[Host 3]

Like, I wouldn't want my ex to know as a part of this project and her trying to. To attach herself so strongly to it. She was just. I think she's just so delusional about herself.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Her acting prowess. Yes. All of that. She thought this was potentially going to be her Oscar. This is not the film to, you know, make your crowning achievement. It's not the feather in your cap girl.

[Host 1]

She's like, ben, I know you're such a big fan of Colleen Hoover books.

[Host 3]

Oh, my gosh.

[Host 1]

So, yeah, everyone, that's the email to Ben Affleck.

[Host 3]

It's so good. It's so sad. We don't know his response if he did respond.

[Host 1]

I know. I do wonder if he responded.

[Host 3]

It's wild again. It's just. It goes to show, like, she was. She was leveraging every connection she had.

[Host 1]

To take over this movie, pulling out all the stops. I mean, I kind of feel bad for her.

[Host 3]

It's so cringe.

[Host 1]

I mean, I feel bad for. On a cringe level that I'm also just like, damn, like, this is sad. Why?

[Host 3]

Because she's so desperate.

[Host 1]

Yeah, it's just like, everybody we're running into. Hey, do you have a spare hour and 58 minutes? Would you. Would you. You and your kids want to give Notes on my film.

[Host 3]

Do your. Do your young daughters want to watch a movie about domestic violence? Do you have any floral PJs they could slip on? Like, it is just so corny. Okay, So I think also what's funny is Blake is clearly so high on her own supply, and so to see what the Sony executives are saying behind the scenes about her is just pretty juicy.

[Host 1]

Yeah, let's just read these, because I think it's. We don't know a ton about who these people are. I mean, we know that Sanford Panitch is, like, the executive there, but, yeah, we don't need to get into the nitty gritty of who everyone is. But these are Sony executives. Okay. This executive vp, Tahara Grant, says she orchestrated all this drama in a totally unsavvy and amateur way and basically threatened Sony. And now it's mad backfired on her. Mm.

[Host 3]

Tom Rothman, Sony CEO, observed, although Lively didn't quote deserve the backlash, she did bring it all on herself by refusing to listen to advice and by selling her products. So the Sony executives are just like, what the.

[Host 1]

Yeah, about.

[Host 3]

All about the buddy buzz about the. The hair care products and brown beauty. Or is it just brown beauty?

[Host 1]

I think like brown beauty. I also want to say that, like, we were wondering, like, where is Sony in all of this? Remember, because Sony was not commenting, so this is what's happening behind the scenes. So then Sanford P. Stony president says she did it to herself. If she just let him come to the premiere or didn't make all the cast unfollow him or kick him off the movie and did what everyone has ever done in show business for time and memorial, which is to protect the show, then none of this sleuthing would have happened. The hairstyle at the same time was epic level stupid. She wouldn't listen. She knows better.

[Host 3]

The hairstyle at the time was epic level stupid. She wouldn't listen.

[Host 1]

This is like the president of Sony.

[Host 3]

Saying this, that you're epic level stupid. Oh, it's just so juicy. Okay. I also think him saying, like, listen, it's called show business. Protect the show. This is about the film. It's not about you. It's about the film.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And just walk the red carpet.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

Do your job.

[Host 3]

Don't make this a total nightmare.

[Host 1]

I'm also gonna say something maybe controversial.

[Host 3]

Okay. I love it.

[Host 1]

Especially when none of the that went down. Was that that serious?

[Host 3]

Exactly.

[Host 1]

It's not like there was like. Like essaying.

[Host 3]

Really? Or are Exactly.

[Host 1]

It. It didn't need to go nuclear.

[Host 3]

She didn't need to go scorched earth.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And that's what she did. She went full scorched earth. And she didn't really have the vindication for doing so.

[Host 1]

Okay, so there's another set of messages. This is actually from earlier in the year. And I'm just gonna kind of like not read every single one. But I just think it's fascinating. This is Sanford pitch again. He says, you know, Blake said no way on the date. I think he's talking about the release date. He says, how do we control her creative control? And then someone says, there's only one cut. The one he previewed Friday night, she saw this morning. Has not responded to Justin yet. This person says, jake mentioned nothing to me. He then continues Sanford and accused Josh of setting up a fake screening. She said they hired Screen Engine without consulting her. She's going to demand her own cut. She said, there is no way on June. We are now looking at August. Then this person responds, it was not fake.

[Host 3]

And then he says, Eat, Pray, Love. Julia and Julia are in August. Basically, like, we don't want to go up in August, those two films, right?

[Host 1]

And then he says, she is a terrorist.

[Host 3]

The president of Sony is calling her a terrorist.

[Host 1]

He then goes on, even if it wasn't fake, the point is she didn't feel part of that screening. She should have been brought into the fold on that so she could own those numbers as well. And then this person responds, I think they're maybe. I don't know. Another Sony person says, respectfully, there's no process that works with her. There isn't. What is important is that we have a baseline so we know you can tell her everything, include her in everything, and still it does not hold.

[Host 3]

So the president says, she's an editing room. Can you go in there so we understand.

[Host 1]

And then this is. This is now back to August. He's just, you know, messing with this person. He says it's quite ironic because she has a huge hit movie headed to 300 million plus and probably will never work again or not for a while. Even though Hathaway recovered, Tom thinks she's probably and bizarrely unhirable right now, that is.

[Host 3]

What did Hathaway recover from?

[Host 1]

Well, I think she had an interview with that same Krista journalist, but she apologized. And I think people are just like, generally turned off by her. But she like kind of went away for a little bit, you know, like the.

[Host 3]

He's basically saying she's going to be unhirable.

[Host 1]

I think it gets really juicy. Because then. So then the person says this will pass. She's going to be fine. And then they say an apology to that reporter would help something to just survivors other than a 24 hour thing on her intention the stories. And then Sanford says no, disagree. She's done for at least a while. It's cooked. She said she is retiring to Josh or something. It will take a few years. Eva Mendez time she did it to herself. If she just let him come to the premiere. I didn't make all the cast and follow him. We've already read that part. Okay.

[Host 3]

What is Eva Mendez?

[Host 1]

I don't know. I don't know why he says. But like, like Eva Mendez hasn't, you know, isn't working.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You know, not really.

[Host 3]

That's so crazy. It's. It's time for her to be like Eva Mendes, I guess so Eva Mendez basically like go away.

[Host 1]

Just like, like go be like quietly. So this is in August. This is when the tie to public opinion is like. And so.

[Host 3]

And yeah, it's so interesting because it's really achieving the exact opposite of what she's trying to achieve, which is all these offers coming in and becoming, you know, such an in demand director.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 3]

And I just think it's so, it's so delusional to think that word would not get around that you hijacked a film. Why would people want to work with you?

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Even if it was a great. Ended up being a great movie.

[Host 1]

I mean, I don't know. I actually think that if the, if her artistic output was incredible, it would be like, I don't know. She's just, she's. She's a nightmare, but it's worth it. Interesting.

[Host 3]

Well, their output was not incredible.

[Host 1]

Yeah. This next bit of evidence that I want to bring before everyone is a doozy. Okay. This is Ryan Reynolds message to Colleen Hoover after the film has been released in August of 2024. I really struggle with Ryan Reynolds.

[Host 3]

I always have.

[Host 1]

And it's going to be a feat for me to read these words of his because it is just so over the top. I mean just their, their whole style of texting, of, of being witty and just.

[Host 3]

He's just doing the most, doing the most and.

[Host 1]

But in the most unlikable, over the top. I don't know. It's just, it's the guy who's trying too hard over text.

[Host 3]

It's trying so hard in every single way and not just to be extre. Ingratiating and saccharine in the way he's talking about Colleen Hoover about the film. But then also in his writing style, he's trying to be so witty.

[Host 1]

It's like, has to be the, like, kind of the most like darkly sexual and witty. You know when he said like the perineum thing, Remember that?

[Host 3]

These are just like the ultimate try hard people.

[Host 1]

Yes. Of all time.

[Host 3]

Of all time.

[Host 1]

Okay, so let's begin. Colleen, I'm sending you literally every form of congratulations. I see the sky while jumping up and down and rapidly happy clapping at one.

[Host 3]

Sorry. He sees the sky while he's rapidly jumping up, down and clapping.

[Host 1]

Yes. At one point I was three feet from you at the after party, but I wasn't able to extricate myself from the Sony Studios chairman's mouth. I'm still in here and a little shocked. I have service. Is that like a joke about he's getting blown by somebody?

[Host 3]

No. Oh, oh. Like, like this guy is like, like.

[Host 1]

Kissing my ass or something. I don't know. Or is he like. No, because if, if, Because, I mean, you. We work out the mechanics. Yourself. I, I feel like myself from this mouth.

[Host 3]

I, I mean, that is so disturbing. If that's what he's saying. I think what he's saying is this guy's just like talking my ear off.

[Host 1]

That's what I thought too, but I. No stone unturned.

[Host 3]

Well, you know, to the pure, all is pure. To the. Anyway, to the impure, you know, get your mind out of the gutter, Chandler.

[Host 1]

Okay, well, here we go. Holy.

[Host 3]

Please, if you. What you think. Everyone, please comment.

[Host 1]

I mean, this is, this is not far fetched for Ryan Reynolds because, like.

[Host 3]

Basically saying, this guy's like, blowing me. Yeah, that's how, that's how far he's up my ass.

[Host 1]

Yes, I think so. Yeah. And I'm like, was that any of the guys that. I don't think that's Sanford, but was that any of the guys in the Sony messages?

[Host 3]

Anyway, back to back. Back to the email, which is private communications. After reading that.

[Host 1]

Back to the email. Holy. You guys really pulled it off. Like, Colleen, this thing is on fire everywhere. And the audiences have wrapped both arms around the film. You and B made something gorgeous out of ingredients you didn't ask for. Which is what makes you both and this whole post production team so clutch. I heard you guys got a tummy bug and you're stuck in New York. I can't think of anything worse. Although it might be your body ridding itself of any residual Baldoni. I'd rather be puking in a gulag than hijacking performative feminism while practicing personal growth catchphrases in the mirror, he continues. I hope you're taking a moment to enjoy this. I know the road isn't always easy or clear when you're a creator and apex storyteller like you, I can imagine it takes a very resolute mind and heart to process all the strange people with muddled intentions trying to warm their hands on your light. What's happening this weekend with It Ends with Us is a victory lap and a testament to fortitude. You created a world people wanted to experience about a subject that's hard to talk about. You and Blake opened the movie adaptation higher than most films with budgets five to six times larger during a movie season that was about to give up on female led films as if that's a genre or something. This is proving a point that audiences will show up for a film if it's good. A lesson the industry learns and forgets in perfect concert with the seasons. What a complete win this is. I know we all breathe rare air. I realize how lucky we are. But I also know how genuinely good you and B are. And seeing good people put shitty people over their knee for a good old fashioned pants down spanking in the supermarket is a special experience I don't take for granted. I'm not done. But you've got things to say.

[Host 3]

Why is he talking about spankings potentially being in someone's mouth? What was there was another so graphic.

[Host 1]

It's so, so graphic.

[Host 3]

Like it's so. It's so much to take in. We don't want these images.

[Host 1]

Can you imagine being in person with him?

[Host 3]

I cannot. Then also it's just being wooed by.

[Host 1]

This being like this guy's so fun.

[Host 3]

We all breathe rare air. Like these people are so insufferable. I can't.

[Host 1]

Cannot. Okay, got a couple more paragraphs. Buckle in. You both trued up this whole project on and off screen. You two are thoughtful and intentioned and relentless and it's that same tender grit and humanity which created not only a world renowned novelist but the engine that got this film to hear. I could literally write you 85 more paragraphs eulogizing what this all means to me. This whole team rallied and delivered. Even Sony stepped up in ways I never imagined. But mainly I'm just incredibly proud and inspired by you and B. Hope you're feeling so much better and I can't wait for us to celebrate in person. And if you and Blank are still in nyc, we're back tonight. Would love to see you both. And if you feel like getting some fresh air, we have a whole beautiful empty cottage an hour outside of the city. It's the perfect place to unplug from the Internet's digital anxiety system. Lots of love. Is that a palate cleanser for everybody? Are we good? Anyway, I. I'm sorry.

[Sponsor/Ad Reader]

I just.

[Host 3]

For once.

[Host 1]

He's the worst of them all.

[Host 3]

I have no words because that. That email made me hate words, and it made me hate the. The written word, the spoken word, all forms of communication. It's just so.

[Host 1]

You know what I have to say. Burn the books, literally. We don't.

[Host 3]

We. We don't need to be literate. Okay. Do people really need to know how to, like, like, chat?

[Host 1]

GPT. Take me now.

[Host 3]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Like, I'd like to be lobotomized.

[Host 3]

This guy is such a nightmare.

[Host 1]

I didn't. Yeah. I didn't think it was possible for somebody to ruin the English language for me.

[Host 3]

Oh. To add insult to injury, truly, to this entire thing. We have lost so much.

[Host 1]

I know. I know.

[Host 3]

What is he trying to get out of her?

[Host 1]

I feel like this is before the media storm.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Maybe this is when they think movie number two.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

You know, he says, I could literally.

[Host 3]

Write you 85 more paragraphs eulogizing what this all means to me. I just feel like it's very disingenuous. It's not. That's not true. You couldn't write 85 more paragraphs. I don't think you're. I don't think you're just being hyperbolic either. I think you're being ingratiating. Like, you're. This person seems like they're trying to.

[Host 1]

Get something out of the situation.

[Host 3]

It's just clearly manipulative. It's like trying to win someone over in a way that is just so over the top and doesn't read as authentic.

[Host 1]

Yeah. I mean, I do think this is authentically who Ryan Reynolds is also.

[Host 3]

It's like, this would feel like such an exhausting email to send someone, like, to come up with almost the narcissism involved in thinking that she's going to want to read all this.

[Host 1]

And I. I just want to know, like, are people eating this up?

[Host 3]

Right.

[Host 1]

Do some people eat it up? Because I. I would venture a guess. Maybe some people think this is, like, amazing and hilarious. Like, they think he's got a way with words or, like, wow, such imagery.

[Host 3]

Well, I think that Ryan Reynolds probably, you know, when he's breathing his rare air, he's surrounded by so Many. Yes. People.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

And people who do act like everything he does is incredible.

[Host 1]

He's like a laugh track.

[Host 3]

He. Yeah. He has a constant laugh track of paid employees. So he does think that she wants to get this.

[Host 1]

Yeah. He's my least favorite celebrity.

[Host 3]

I mean, insufferable on an. On Instagram. And behind the scenes, I mean, there's, there's clearly going to be more. So this is part nine.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Part ten. I'm sure will will come.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

You guys, it has been a joy to be with you. Thank you for being papa apostles for listening to the pod. If you want part eight, go to our, you know, the next the episode below this and you can listen to us dissect all the messages with Taylor Swift. It is a very long discussion. Again, we leave no stone unturned. Consider becoming a global elite supporting the program. But to all pop apostles near and wide, we love you guys and we'll be back on Friday. Love you.

[Host 1]

Bye. Pluto TV has thousands of free movies and TV shows. This is the mindset.

[Host 2]

Free.

[Host 1]

This is the mantra. Free. This is the mindset. With movies like 2 Joe Dirt, Pixels and 51st Date.

[Host 3]

This is awesome.

[Host 1]

And TV shows like Survivor, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Fairly Odd Parents and Ghosts. Pluto TV is always free.

[Host 3]

Haza.

[Host 1]

Pluto TV stream now pay. Never. You're welcome.