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.