Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
This calendar year, the “It Ends With Us” cast and production team found themselves embroiled in a dispute. This turmoil began when TikTok users spotted that leading actress Blake Lively and her co-star/director, Justin Baldoni, did not pose for pictures together at the New York City premiere on August 6, 2024. Rumors began to surface suggesting a rift, and the situation intensified when Justin hired a crisis PR manager. As the year drew to a close, Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin, alleging sexual harassment on the set of their film.
Hollywood News provides an in-depth look at the dispute and the ensuing legal battle between Blake and Justin.
Reports of Strife Emerge
On August 14, 2024, TMZ revealed friction between Blake and Justin during the filming of a kissing scene. Insiders claimed that the “A Simple Favor” actress felt uncomfortable with the director “overdoing” the kiss while filming.
Sources also reported that Blake felt “body-shamed” by Justin when he asked an on-set trainer about her weight during a scene where his character, Ryle, lifts her character, Lilly, into the air. Justin has a history of back issues, and this inquiry reportedly made Blake feel targeted.
Page Six reported that an eyewitness noticed “unease” in Blake on the set of “It Ends With Us”.
“The discomfort was apparent,” the source told the outlet. “Once the scene was done, [Blake] seemed very eager [to leave]. She said, ‘Am I done? Can I go?’ and as soon as they said yes, she was gone”
Fans questioned whether Blake and Justin would reunite for the sequel, “It Starts With Us”. However, a source told Variety on August 27, 2024, that a reunion is unlikely. “No circumstances exist where these two will work together ever again,” the insider stated.
“This is uncharted territory,” the insider added.
How did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Conflict Intensify
The Impact on Post-Production
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the directors’ professional relationship was strained during post-production. The publication reported that two different versions of the film were created, leading to alleged artistic differences.
The Decline in Social Media Interactions
As social media investigators have noticed, Blake and “It Ends With Us” book author Colleen Hoover do not follow Justin on Instagram, despite his follow-back. Their online behavior isn’t the only area where the cast’s purported relationship has deteriorated.
Cast and Crew Allegations
PEOPLE reported on August 13, 2024, that the supposed conflict with Justin involves the “core cast” and Colleen.
“All is not as it appears,” a set insider told the publication. “The main cast and the author will have nothing to do with him.”
Blake Lively Takes Legal Action Against Justin Baldoni
On December 21, 2024, TMZ reported that Blake filed a legal action against Justin for alleged sexual harassment. The lawsuit stated that a all-hands-on-deck meeting was held to address the alleged harmful workplace environment. According to the outlet, the meeting addressed the following demands:
- No more showing nude videos or images of other women to Blake
- No further comments about Justin’s alleged previous pornography addiction
- No more personal conversations about sexual experiences in front of Blake and others
- No further remarks about cast and crew’s anatomy
- No personal queries about Blake’s weight
Additional requests included:
- No further inclusion of sexual scenes, intimate acts, or on-screen climaxing by Blake beyond what was scripted and approved before she agreed to the project
In response to Blake’s allegations, Justin’s attorney released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, labeling the lawsuit “tactless”. “It comes as no surprise that Blake and her representatives would make such serious and baseless claims against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Pictures, and its affiliates, as yet another attempt to salvage her adverse reputation which was the result of her own public remarks and actions during the film’s campaign and promotional events observed in real-time, unedited, allowing the public to form their opinions.”
TMZ also reported that “It Ends With Us” underperformed at the box office due to disagreements between Blake and Justin on marketing strategies. According to the outlet, Blake wanted the focus to be on her character’s resilience, while Justin preferred a more serious tone, emphasizing the film’s themes of domestic violence.
Justin Baldoni Files Lawsuit Against The New York Times
On December 31, Variety reported that Justin filed a $250 million legal claim against The New York Times over its article titled, “We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.” On behalf of Justin and other plaintiffs, the attorney filed a complaint alleging malicious promises and contractual breach.
A NYT spokesperson replied, “An independent news organization’s role is to follow the facts where they lead. Our story was rigorously and responsibly reported. It was based on a detailed review of thousands of original documents, including the text messages and emails quoted accurately in the article. To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, other subjects of the article, and their representatives have not identified any inaccuracies. We published their full statement in response to the article’s allegations. We will vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”