The eagerly awaited film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends With Us”, seemed seamless at it’s first look Featuring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the romantic drama struck a chord with audiences, raking in $350 million globally and earning a 90% audience score on Rotten Toma
The eagerly awaited film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends With Us”, seemed seamless at it’s first look Featuring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the romantic drama struck a chord with audiences, raking in $350 million globally and earning a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, behind the film’s success, reports of on-set discord, strained relationships, and personal conflicts. These concerns intensified, culminating in Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni in December 2024, bringing the situation to the forefront of Hollywood discussions.
Here is a detailed timeline outlining the events that led to this major controversy.
Ahead of film’s release, fans began to notice unusual social media interactions among the cast. None of the main cast members, including Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Isabela Ferrer, and Alex Neustaedter, followed Justin Baldoni on Instagram, despite him following all of them. Additionally, author Colleen Hoover’s decision not to follow Justin further fueled speculation regarding potential tensions behind the scenes.
These social media observations aligned with Justin Baldoni’s noticeable absence from promotional events. While Blake Lively and her co-stars engaged in interviews and appearances to promote the film, Justin did not take part in any of these activities. Initially, rumors circulated that his absence was due to a hospitalization, but fans started to speculate that there might be deeper issues at play.
It Ends With Us: Premiere night fallout
The New York City premiere of “It Ends With Us” provided additional evidence of possible tensions among the cast. Although all cast members were present, Justin Baldoni did not take photos with the rest of the team and opted to remain apart throughout the event.
According to Page Six, Baldoni watched the film in a separate theater at AMC Lincoln Square, accompanied by family, friends, and executives from Sony and his production company. Meanwhile, Blake Lively viewed the movie in a different theater with her own guests.
The lack of interaction among the cast was particularly noticeable, especially considering Justin Baldoni’s roles as both director and co-star. Adding to the speculation, Jenny Slate’s red carpet interview appeared to subtly critique Justin’s management of his dual responsibilities. When asked about his work in both capacities, she said, “I just found myself being like, ‘Wow, I really just want to have one job at once.’ And in fact, I’ve often felt that way. I love acting. I just want to do it.”
Her comments indirectly highlighted the difficulties of managing multiple roles on set without explicitly criticising Justin’s direction.
Post release allegation
After the premiere, various media outlets began reporting on tensions that arose during production. An article from the Hollywood Reporter indicated that post-production was plagued by disagreements. Reports suggested that Blake Lively commissioned her own cut of the film, fueling speculation about creative conflicts. While insiders noted that such situations are not unusual in the industry, this revelation emphasised the strained relationships within the team.
Amid these developments, troubling allegations regarding Justin Baldoni’s behavior have emerged. Page Six reported that he allegedly fostered an “extremely difficult” environment on set, making Blake Lively feel “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body. A source from Daily Mail added that during scenes depicting abuse, Justin reportedly neglected to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, instead concentrating solely on what he perceived as the abusive male viewpoint. This approach was described as very chauvinistic, contributing to a tense atmosphere on set.
On August 12, TMZ intensified the controversy by releasing footage of a heated argument between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on set. In the video, Blake appeared visibly frustrated as she discussed a scene that Justin was directing.
Late August
As the allegations continued to circulate, Blake received strong support from her colleagues and family. Co-star Brandon Sklenar took to Instagram to defend her, urging fans to concentrate on the film’s message rather than the surrounding drama. He stated, “Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film…seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about.”
Blake Lively’s brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, also expressed his support, calling her “an exceptional role model” and suggesting that the complete truth has yet to be revealed. He stated, “Blake worked harder on this film than anything I’ve seen her do in my entire life. The message is in the book. And in the movie. Not in short clips/interviews.”
Simultaneously, Justin Baldoni sought to mend his reputation. On August 31, he posted on Instagram to address survivors of domestic violence, stating, “Dear Survivor, You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days…While I can never fully understand your pain and all you have endured, I want you to know that you are never alone in this fight.”
Despite his message of support, Justin Baldoni faced increasing criticism.
Blake Lively’s lawsuit becomes public in December
In December 2024, actress Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and retaliatory actions during the production of It Ends With Us. The lawsuit, submitted in California, outlines a series of incidents that Lively claims contributed to a hostile work environment, resulting in significant emotional distress.
1. Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath engaged in inappropriate behavior.
2. Unwanted improvised kissing scenes occurred during filming.
3. Discussions about personal topics, such as Baldoni’s porn addiction, genitalia, and sexual experiences, took place.
4. Allegedly, Heath showed Lively a video of his wife giving birth while naked.
5. Lively’s personal space was violated, as Baldoni and Heath entered her trailer without permission.
Lively accused Baldoni’s public relations team of conducting a smear campaign aimed at damaging her reputation after she voiced her concerns.
She has reportedly submitted emails and messages as evidence. In response to the situation, Baldoni has enlisted crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan, recognized for her work during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial, to manage the aftermath.