Recent media coverage has focused on leaked text messages in which actress Jameela Jamil seemingly calls Blake Lively a "villain". The unsealed messages, part of court documents related to Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, have sparked debate and prompted Jamil to clarify her remarks.
The text exchange between Jameela Jamil, 39, and Jennifer Abel, Justin Baldoni's publicist, occurred in August 2024, following the release of the movie It Ends With Us, which stars both Baldoni and Lively. The film addresses the sensitive topic of domestic violence and was met with criticism regarding the tone of Lively's promotional activities.
The conversation between Jamil and Abel began in response to a TikTok video that critiqued Lively's It Ends With Us press tour. Abel initiated the exchange, expressing her frustration with Lively. Jamil responded with strong words, reportedly calling Lively a "suicide bomber at this point" and stating, "I've never seen such a bizarre villain act before; She's OVER over". She also described Lively's Instagram post, which linked to a domestic violence survivors' hotline, as "so cold, just some stats and a link".
Following the leak of these messages, Jamil addressed the controversy via an Instagram Stories video on January 22, 2026. While she didn't directly mention Lively or the lawsuit, her comments were widely interpreted as a response to the situation. Jamil defended her stance on feminism, stating, "[Feminism] does not mean you have to like every single woman, it means you can actually beef with other women,". She emphasized that feminism is about fighting for the political, social, and economic equity of women, and not about personal friendships or agreements. "[Feminism] does not mean you have to be friends with every single woman, it means you can criticize them, you can do whatever you want, as long as you are also fighting for their human right to the same things that men have in this world. That's all feminism is. It's a moral and political stance, it is not a sleepover where we braid each other's pubes. Okay?".
Jamil also appeared to allude to the timing of the texts, implying that the context surrounding Lively's actions during the It Ends With Us press tour was crucial. Some have pointed out that the messages predate allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace that have since been made.
The unsealed court documents also revealed private messages from Lively to Taylor Swift and Brendan Sklenar. In these messages, Lively reportedly vented about Baldoni, referring to him as the "doofus director of my movie" and a "chaotic clown". Swift allegedly warned Lively about potential media fallout. Lively also discussed her strained friendship with Swift, later apologizing for messages that Swift felt were like "a mass corporate email". Lively blamed paranoia caused by her legal fight for the tone of her messages.
The leaked texts have ignited a flurry of online reactions, with some supporting Lively and others siding with Jamil's assessment. The controversy highlights the complexities of public discourse surrounding sensitive topics like domestic violence and the challenges of navigating interpersonal relationships within the context of ongoing legal battles.
