The premiere of It Ends With Us in August 2024 seemed to be a successful film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s literary phenomenon; however, it ended up becoming a scandal that overshadowed Justin Baldoni’s debut as a director.
Although the movie broke audience records, the drama between its protagonists, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, has only intensified over time. Recently, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and defamation, which has reignited rumors about the tense relationship between them during filming.
On December 21st, E! News revealed that Blake Lively, actress and co-producer of the film, filed a complaint with the California Department of Civil Rights, alleging that Baldoni made inappropriate sexual comments towards her and used a public relations expert to discredit her. This complaint comes after months of speculation about a rift between the two actors, who were not seen together during the movie's promotional tour.
Who is Justin Baldoni?
Justin Baldoni is a renowned American actor and filmmaker, famous for his role as Rafael Solano in the series Jane the Virgin (2014–2019). In addition to his acting career, Baldoni has excelled in the film industry as a director, bringing romantic films like Five Feet Apart (2019) and Clouds (2020) to the screen. His latest project, It Ends With Us (2024), allowed him to combine his passion for cinema with his interest in addressing deep issues, such as domestic abuse, earning him recognition in the industry.
Throughout his career, Baldoni has been an advocate for gender equality and redefining masculinity, ideas that he captured in his book "Undefining Masculinity." However, his public image has been put to the test by the accusations from Lively, which have generated controversy and questions about his behavior both on and off set.
Baldoni responds to accusations from Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni's legal team wasted no time in responding to Blake Lively's accusations, firmly defending the director. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, described Lively's accusations as "false" and "desperate," and stated that the purpose of the lawsuit was to "repair" the actress's negative reputation, which they claimed had been damaged by her behavior during the film's promotion.
Freedman also referred to Wayfarer Studios' decision to hire a public relations expert before the movie's release, claiming that this was a proactive measure due to the "multiple demands and threats" from Lively during production. According to the lawyer, Lively threatened not to show up on set or promote the film if her demands were not met, which created a tense atmosphere on the set of "It Ends With Us."
Tensions on the set: the battle of egos and personal conflict
The rumors of friction between Lively and Baldoni have been circulating for months, but it had never reached this level of controversy. Sources close to the production have described a tense atmosphere, especially when Lively was present on set. According to an insider, Lively was described as "naturally abrasive," which caused discomfort among the team members. Additionally, it was mentioned that Baldoni, on his part, had difficulties controlling the project, further exacerbating the situation.
Although there was no direct public confrontation, the lack of collaboration between the main actors during the promotional tour was enough for fans to start speculating about their relationship.