Hollywood is no stranger to drama, but the recent scandal between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Allegations, lawsuits, and public feuds have overshadowed their once-promising collaboration, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned. Let’s break down the shocking details of the ongoing scandal and what led to the conflict between these two Hollywood stars.
The Beginning of the Controversy
The trouble started in 2023, when Justin Baldoni, known for his role in Jane the Virgin and for his work as a filmmaker, secured the rights to adapt Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us into a movie. Blake Lively was cast as the film’s lead, Lily Bloom, with Baldoni himself planning to direct and star alongside her.
Initially, everything seemed promising. Colleen Hoover expressed her excitement about the casting, calling Blake Lively her “dream Lily” and praising Justin Baldoni for being “perfect” for the role. Fans were eager to see the adaptation of the emotionally charged novel about overcoming trauma and navigating complex love. However, as filming began in New Jersey in May 2023, tensions started to rise.
The Rumors of a Feud
Rumors of a feud between the co-stars began circulating on social media during the film’s promotional tour in 2024. Fans noticed an awkward distance between Blake and Justin, as they appeared to avoid each other at promotional events. Adding fuel to the fire, it was revealed that they were not following each other on social media—something many saw as a sign of a rift.
Speculation quickly spread, with some outlets claiming the conflict stemmed from alleged “fat-shaming” comments made by Baldoni and his extended kissing scenes with Lively that reportedly made her uncomfortable. Others suggested that the tension was related to Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds being too involved in the production process. This only deepened the divide and began to overshadow the film’s success.
Blake Lively Faces Backlash
During the promotional events for It Ends With Us, Blake Lively came under fire for her approach to marketing the film. Critics accused her of focusing too much on promoting her beauty brand rather than addressing the film’s serious themes of domestic violence. A particularly controversial moment came during an interview when Blake responded to a serious question about the theme of domestic abuse with a joke. The backlash on social media was swift, with many feeling that Lively was insensitive to the film’s core message.
In response to the criticism, Lively shared a domestic violence statistic on her Instagram to raise awareness, but the damage had already been done. Her co-star Brandon Scenar defended her, calling the criticism “disheartening,” but the tension continued to rise, and rumors of Lively’s behavior on set began to circulate.
The Lawsuit: Blake Lively Sues Justin Baldoni
In December 2024, the situation escalated further when Blake Lively filed a bombshell lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of causing her “severe emotional distress” during the making of It Ends With Us. The lawsuit claims that Lively had made a series of demands before agreeing to continue working on the film, including that Baldoni refrain from discussing his alleged adult entertainment addiction and making inappropriate comments about his past sexual conquests.
Additionally, Blake reportedly requested that Baldoni stop commenting on her weight, refrain from bringing up her late father, and that no additional explicit scenes be added to the film beyond what was agreed upon in the script. According to Lively’s legal team, when Baldoni allegedly retaliated, he launched a smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
Baldoni’s lawyers swiftly denied these accusations, calling them “false” and “outrageous.” They countered by alleging that Lively had created problems on set, including threatening to skip filming and promotional events, which negatively impacted the film’s release.
The New York Times Investigation
The scandal took an even darker turn when the New York Times published an investigative report revealing that Justin Baldoni had allegedly enlisted a crisis management firm to help manipulate public perception of the situation. According to the report, Baldoni expressed dissatisfaction with the way the film’s narrative was being managed during its press campaign and allegedly sought to “bury” Blake Lively’s reputation.
The report suggested that Baldoni’s PR team had even discussed using social media tactics to “change the narrative” and take down posts that could harm his image, though the efforts were described as “untraceable.”
Fallout and Industry Reactions
The consequences of these allegations have been swift. Justin Baldoni’s talent agency, WME, dropped him from their roster just one day after Lively’s lawsuit was filed. Meanwhile, the organization Vital Voices, which had previously honored Baldoni for his work on elevating women and fighting domestic violence, rescinded his award.
Support for Blake Lively has flooded in from Hollywood, including fellow actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, America Ferrera, and Amy Schumer, along with author Colleen Hoover. Even Blake’s sister, Robin Lively, voiced her support on social media, calling for “Justice for my sister.”
Justin Baldoni Sues the New York Times
In a bold move, Justin Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing the publication of defamation over its investigation into the scandal. The lawsuit claims that the newspaper manipulated and cherry-picked texts to mislead readers, ignoring evidence that could refute Lively’s claims. The legal battle is now unfolding in federal court.
Baldoni also accused Ryan Reynolds of publicly berating him during a confrontation in front of their celebrity friends, adding yet another layer to the drama.
The Ongoing Drama
As the scandal continues to unfold, both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are facing significant public and professional fallout. The future of their careers and the film It Ends With Us remains uncertain. With lawsuits, public statements, and ongoing media coverage, this is one Hollywood drama that shows no signs of slowing down.
What do you think about the situation? Do you believe the allegations against Justin Baldoni? Or is this just another case of Hollywood drama? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe for more updates on this scandal and other Hollywood news!
