Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel “It Ends With Us,” was published in 2016. The novel follows 22-year-old Lily Bloom, who moves to Boston to open up a flower shop. While in Boston, she meets neuro-surgeon Ryle Kincaid. Their romance begins as passionate but soon turns abusive.
During Covid the book skyrocketed thanks to “Book Tok” and it quickly became one of the most anticipated films of 2024
How It All Started
The film adaptation of It Ends With Us began with great promise. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were cast as Lily and Ryle, and it was also announced that Justin would direct the movie. Filming started in May 2023 and quickly caught people’s attention as they were filming in the streets of New Jersey. The film’s release date got pushed back twice “due to the director’s cut.” Despite grossing 346 million worldwide against a $25 million budget, there was still tons of conflict going on behind the scenes.
Fans quickly noticed that Justin was missing from cast events and interviews, and speculation started to swirl. Reports suggest that tensions arose between Lively and Baldoni over creative control. Blake was a producer on the film and used her status to override Baldoni’s request in various aspects of production. Some theories state that Lively had her husband, Ryan Reynolds, rewrite the famous rooftop scene that Baldoni did not approve of.
The drama quickly escalated when Lively filed a complaint on December 20, 2024, alleging that Baldoni created a hostile work environment through inappropriate comments and boundary violations just four months after the film was released. She also alleges that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her on social media. Bryan Freedom, the attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, denied the allegations, calling Lively’s claims “completely false.”
In response to the lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of attempting to destroy his reputation.
The Whirlwind Surrounding the Scandal
The lawsuit quickly became the center of attention. It’s rare to have two co-stars suing each other, so people were interested. Some media articles portrayed Baldoni as a man who is sensitive, respectful, and cares about women’s rights. Others sympathized with Lively, portraying her as a woman who had experienced emotional turmoil.
Over the last few months, there have been many biased reports, and it’s hard for audiences to decipher what is true.
Recently, the drama escalated when a Hollywood Reporter published an article about Lively and Baldoni. Lively called the article “sexist and demeaning” and claimed it diminished her harassment allegations
In February, Lively introduced negative accounts from two unnamed actresses who experienced similar discomfort due to Baldoni’s on-set behavior. Jenny Slate, who played Baldoni’s sister, allegedly filed a complaint as well. Slate expresses her support for Blake and says she will continue to stay by her side.
Colleen Hoover’s Controversial Past
Colleen Hoover has had her fair share of controversy in the past. Most of her books discuss heavy topics such as abuse. She has also been criticized for her lack of content and said she produces “quantity over quality.”
Some people also feel that Hoover’s books normalize abuse in relationships. Readers also argue that her novels may potentially send harmful messages to younger audiences. Despite these controversies, Hoover’s books have maintained immense popularity.
Blake’s Biggest Scandals
Blake’s career hasn’t been without its share of controversies. During her time on Gossip Girl, reports surfaced that she and co-star Leighton Meester weren’t getting along. There were reports that the two women “avoided each other like the plague” on set when they didn’t have to film together.
In 2012, Blake and Ryan Reynolds got married at Boone Hall plantation in South Carolina. Reynolds apologized for the decision in a 2020 interview and donated to the NAACP Legal Defense, but Lively has not commented on the matter.
Two years after her wedding, Lively launched a lifestyle website called Preserve. It attracted controversy when a photo shoot and article appeared to romanticize the Confederate South.
The article was titled “Allure of Antebellum” and featured a white, blonde model in high-heels and a leopard-print skirt. The author wrote that the women of that time were poised, warm, and true southern belles.
A year later, in 2015, the website shut down.
Lively has also faced backlash for working with Woody Allen in 2016 on her movie Cafe Society. When questioned about working with Allen, Lively stated that she could only speak from her own experience and described him as “empowering to women.” Woody Allen faces multiple allegations of sexual harassment.
In a promo video for “It Ends With Us,” Lively was criticized for the way she promoted the movie. She encouraged audiences to “grab your girls and wear your florals.” Lively also leaned into method dressing and wore floral print in almost every outfit she wore during the press tour, which some fans criticized as tone-deaf.
Fashion or Flop: The Costume Controversy on “It Ends With Us”
Many fans of the book have been critical of the fashion choices made for Lily Bloom’s character. Fans described the costumes as “frumpy” and inconsistent with the character’s portrayal in Colleen Hoover’s novel.
In response to the backlash, Hoover addressed the issue, saying she wasn’t focused on the costuming but rather the story. Justin Baldoni also weighed in on the topic and defended the costume department, saying it was a collaborative effort.
However, in January, Baldoni filed a complaint accusing Lively of inflating the film’s wardrobe budget by over $430,000 due to her demands for extensive costume changes. She insisted on reshooting her wardrobe and used pieces from her own closet.
Conclusion
As of February 2025, the legal battles are ongoing. A trial is scheduled for March 2026. Blake and Justin continue to stand by their claims, and the case shows no signs of a resolution.
