Warning: This article deals with the topic of intimate partner violence and could be triggering for some readers.
It Ends With Us just hit theatres, but the real drama is happening off-screen between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Below, find out everything you need to know about the It Ends With Us drama.
As the press tour for It Ends With Us kicked off, fans began noticing something off between the film’s director and co-star, Justin Baldoni, and its leading lady, Blake Lively. While Baldoni seemed to be doing most of his interviews solo, Lively was seen all over the place with the cast and Colleen Hoover — the author of the novel — yet somehow, Baldoni wasn’t really in the picture.
And then there was the Instagram drama. Fans quickly realised that Blake and the other main cast members don’t follow Baldoni on social media — a detail that only fuelled the speculation. Even Hoover, who was instrumental in bringing Baldoni on board, doesn’t follow him, although he follows her and the rest of the cast.
Related: Mother of the Month: Blake Lively
By the time the film’s New York City premiere rolled around on August 6, the whispers had turned into full-blown chatter. Baldoni didn’t take a single photo with the cast or Hoover and skipped the film’s introduction altogether. Naturally, this sparked a flurry of online sleuthing, with fans dissecting every interview and moment for clues. While nothing concrete has come to light just yet, the drama surrounding It Ends With Us has definitely become the talk of the town.
Here’s a detailed look at the drama that has unfolded and what might be at the heart of it.
It Ends With Us Drama, Explained
The speculation about trouble between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began earlier this week. Fans quickly noticed something was off during the film’s press blitz. Justin, who not only directed but also starred in the film, was notably doing a lot of solo interviews. Meanwhile, Blake appeared with the cast and Hoover, but noticeably avoided interactions with Justin.
The tension was further highlighted at the film’s August 6 New York City premiere. Justin was absent from photos with the cast and Hoover and didn’t join them in introducing the film.
It Ends With Us tells the story of Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively) and Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni), whose relationship becomes complicated when Lily’s past love, Atlas Corrigan, reappears. The film deals with heavy themes of romance and domestic abuse, but the on-set dynamics have become a point of intense interest.
During the film’s trailer release in May, Blake Lively participated in joint interviews with fellow cast members like Brandon Sklenar and Jenny Slate. Baldoni did a few interviews with Hoover but otherwise kept a low profile. In June, while Blake and other cast members attended a surprise screening at a book festival near Dallas, Justin was missing, reportedly due to a recent hospitalisation for an infection.
The It Ends With Us Cast Don’t Follow Justin Baldoni on Instagram
By early August, fans noticed that key players, including Lively, Slate, and Brandon Sklenar, were not following Baldoni on social media. Strange, right? Hoover, who had recommended Baldoni for the role, also didn’t follow him. This has led to whispers of a possible feud, though some speculate it could be a calculated PR move.
It’s interesting to note that Baldoni plays an abusive, controlling character in the movie. Could the unfollows be a subtle, dramatic way to mirror the film’s plot? Blake is no stranger to using Instagram as a promotional tool. Remember when she wiped her entire feed and unfollowed everyone, including Ryan Reynolds, for A Simple Favour? She even started following 36 women named Emily Nelson, the name of her character in the film.
Jenny Slate’s Viral Interview
Interviews at the premiere added fuel to the fire. When asked about working with Baldoni as both director and co-star, Slate seemed to avoid the topic, with the caption suggesting she “completely ignored” a question about Baldoni. When asked about working with Baldoni as both a co-star and director, Slate responded with, “I mean, what an intense job! To have to do so many things, I found myself being like ‘wow, I only want to have one job.'”
The response was a bit offbeat, but not as dismissive as the viral clip implied. Still, it added fuel to the speculation fire.
@deadline #JennySlate on working with #JustinBaldoni, who served as both scene partner and director to the actress in #ItEndsWithUsMovie ♬ original sound – Deadline
Ryan Reynolds, Justin Baldoni, and It Ends With Us
There’s also talk that Baldoni might not have been thrilled with how involved Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, was in the film. Blake Lively’s comments about her husband Ryan Reynolds writing a key scene only added fuel to the fire. She framed Reynolds’ involvement as a natural extension of their collaborative work, but some wondered if it indicated creative clashes.
“The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it,” Lively told E! News. He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does. So his wins, his celebrations are mine, and mine are his.”
Adding to the speculation, Reynolds interviewed Lively’s other co-star, Brandon Sklenar, during the press tour, but not Baldoni. Some took this as a sign of tension between Reynolds, Lively, and Baldoni. But, considering Baldoni plays Lively’s abusive partner in the movie, it wouldn’t exactly be appropriate for Reynolds to do a light-hearted interview with him.
Justin Baldoni Says Blake Lively Should Direct It Ends With Us Sequel
Given all the buzz, it might not come as a shock that Baldoni doesn’t seem eager to direct the adaptation of It Starts With Us, Hoover’s 2022 sequel to It Ends With Us.
“I think that there are better people for that one,” he told Entertainment Tonight at the New York premiere on August 6. “I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think.”
@entertainmenttonight Justin Baldoni isn't down to direct the It Ends With Us sequel, but he thinks Blake Lively is ready to take on the job. #itendswithus #justinbaldoni #blakelively #colleenhoover ♬ original sound – Entertainment Tonight
Insider Claims Justin Baldoni Was “Dismissive” On It Ends With Us Set
Insiders have suggested there was tension between Lively and Baldoni, with claims that the two clashed over his “dismissive” attitude towards her input during scenes involving abuse. A source told DailyMail.com that Baldoni was “chauvinistic” on set, allegedly focusing only on “what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint”.
However, this is all unconfirmed and seems out of character, making it hard to know what to believe. While the insider claims Baldoni “almost became the character”, it’s difficult to reconcile this with the public image of Baldoni as a thoughtful and empathetic public figure.
So, while the rumours swirl, it’s clear there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding It Ends With Us drama.
It Ends With Us is in cinemas now, you can book your tickets here.
If this article brings up any issues for you or anyone you know, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) — the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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