Uncovered messages from Blake Lively’s team show staffers panicking as several companies responded negatively to backlash the actress faced during her “It Ends With Us” feud with Justin Baldoni.
“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,” reads one of the messages from a member of Lively’s team to staffers about the actress’ cocktail line dated Sept. 10, 2024, per TMZ.
“There is a negative taste in Kroger’s mouth based on the [Blake Lively] interview (press) from the movie, and they said they will be closely monitoring sales on the brand,” it continues, discussing the grocery giant.
The email goes on to state that Kroger is “expecting a negative sales impact, and they’re wondering what [Blake Lively] will be doing to course correct and make things right with her audience.”
The team member then asks if there are “internal efforts in place to flip the script or messaging we can share with these customers directly” and notes that the company needs “to be proactive about this.”
A separate message from the VP of Food & Beverage at Princess Cruises to the Betty Booze team claimed reads: “By the way our legal ethics and compliance committee board spooked with Blake !!! I am working things out hopefully will not have an effect.”
An additional correspondence with railroad company Brightline dated Aug. 28, 2024, showed the actress taking another blow as the company sought to pause an anticipated partnership deal.
“Transparently they want to hold for a minute until some of the [Blake Lively] chatter can be turned down. I’ll circle back when I hear more,” the message from Brightline’s executive VP read.
The “Gossip Girl” star’s team reportedly planned to use the texts as evidence to back Lively’s claims about the exorbitant damages and losses she incurred as a result of Baldoni’s alleged smear campaign against her.
Reps for Lively and Baldoni did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Lively and Baldoni made headlines when they reached a settlement agreement for their years-long “It Ends With Us” legal feud on Monday — just two weeks before their case was scheduled to go to trial.
“The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life,” both sides said in a joint statement to Page Six. “Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.”
Both parties added that they “remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments” and it is their “sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
Soon after, a source exclusively told Page Six that the agreement finally came to fruition in a “last-minute deal.”
“The magistrate and the judge wanted to avoid this going to trial as it was going to be a long, drawn-out case, so they were encouraged to reach an agreement,” the insider said.
It’s worth noting that the two stars had already gone to mediation in February, but were unsuccessful.
While the explicit settlement details remain under wraps, Page Six confirmed that neither Baldoni or Lively earned any money from the agreement.
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