Newly surfaced internal messages from Blake Lively’s team suggest growing concern among business partners and corporate stakeholders during the actress’s public dispute with actor and director Justin Baldoni surrounding the film It Ends With Us.

The emails, first reported by TMZ, detail how several companies allegedly reacted to negative publicity tied to Lively’s press appearances and the broader controversy surrounding the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.

Corporate Partners Reportedly Worried About Brand Impact

One email dated Sept. 10, 2024, referenced concerns from executives connected to Kroger, one of the largest grocery chains in the United States, regarding Lively’s beverage brand, Betty Booze.

“I just got off the phone with the SGWS Kroger VP, and the first thing he mentioned to me was that Betty Booze was just discussed,” the message reportedly stated.

According to the email, Kroger executives believed there was “a negative taste” surrounding Lively’s press interviews connected to It Ends With Us. The correspondence further indicated that the retailer planned to closely monitor sales performance tied to the brand.

The message added that Kroger expected “a negative sales impact” and wanted to know what steps Lively might take to “course correct” with consumers.

The staff member also urged colleagues to consider whether there were “internal efforts” underway to shift public messaging and emphasized the need to be “proactive” in responding to the controversy.

Additional Companies Expressed Concern

Other reported communications suggested that additional corporate partners were uneasy about the ongoing media attention.

In one message, an executive from Princess Cruises allegedly told the Betty Booze team that the company’s legal and compliance board had become “spooked” by the controversy involving Lively.

Another email, dated Aug. 28, 2024, involved Brightline, the passenger rail company operating in Florida. According to the correspondence, the company wanted to temporarily pause a potential partnership arrangement involving the actress.

“Transparently they want to hold for a minute until some of the [Blake Lively] chatter can be turned down,” the executive vice president reportedly wrote.

The emails were reportedly intended to support claims from Lively’s legal team that she suffered substantial financial and reputational harm due to what they described as an alleged smear campaign connected to Baldoni.

Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni did not immediately respond to media requests for comment following the release of the messages.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Reach Settlement

The dispute between the two Hollywood figures had become one of the entertainment industry’s most closely watched legal battles in recent months.

Earlier this week, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement agreement tied to their long-running It Ends With Us legal conflict, just weeks before the case was expected to head to trial.

In a joint statement provided to Page Six, both parties said the film remained “a source of pride” for everyone involved in bringing the project to audiences.

The statement also emphasized the movie’s broader message surrounding domestic violence awareness and support for survivors.

“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind,” the statement read.

Both sides additionally said they remained committed to maintaining professional workplaces free from misconduct and hostile environments, while expressing hope that the agreement would allow everyone involved to move forward peacefully.

Settlement Reportedly Reached at the Last Minute

A source familiar with the negotiations later told Page Six that the agreement was finalized through a “last-minute deal” encouraged by court officials seeking to avoid a lengthy public trial.

According to the report, previous mediation efforts held in February had failed to produce a resolution.

While the exact terms of the settlement remain confidential, reports indicate that neither Lively nor Baldoni received financial compensation as part of the agreement.

The legal battle and surrounding publicity generated significant attention across social media and entertainment news outlets, highlighting how celebrity disputes can quickly affect corporate partnerships, brand perception, and consumer-facing businesses in the U.S. market.