If you’ve been online at all so far this year, you’ve heard about the legal battle between It Ends with Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directed the movie, BTW). If not, you might remember the criticisms the movie received for its depiction of abuse.
And as the legal case between Blake and Justin continues to unfold, we just got a new interview from Justin himself.
On Feb. 10, Justin appeared on the podcast Gent’s Talk. The episode was recorded back in November, a MONTH BEFORE the legal case, according to People. The interview discusses a whole variety of topics — including the message behind It Ends with Us, toxic masculinity, and mental health.
Justin got very candid about the emotional struggles he was facing around the release of It Ends with Us. “This morning I sent a text message to my best friend Jamey and the president of my company, Tera, and I told them that I wasn’t in the best place,” he said.
“I told them that I was exhausted, that I haven’t given myself time to recover or time to heal,” he said. “I had an intense year.”
“A lot of material success, and a lot of emotional stress,” he admitted. “It was very hard on me and my family.”
He also said he’s been “having some anxiety” in the time since It Ends with Us came out. “I woke up at 4:30 in the morning,” he said, noting that his “heart was racing.”
Later on in the interview, Justin also reflected on his character. “Who I am is a work in progress,” he said. “And who I am is somebody who is always trying to be radically sincere and authentic to myself, so that I can be of service in the best way possible and have the most impact.”
At this moment, Justin and Blake aren’t scheduled to go to trial until March 9, 2026. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on any updates until then.
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