In the world of Hollywood, rumors of on-set drama are as common as red carpets and paparazzi. The latest buzz centers around Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, who both star in and, in Baldoni’s case, direct the much-anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, It Ends With Us. With whispers of tension and reported friction between the two stars, Justin Baldoni has finally addressed the speculation in a candid interview.
Baldoni, who plays Ryle in the film and also took on the role of director, is the first to break his silence about the rumored difficulties on set. “It’s very challenging to act and direct, especially with a project like this,” the 40-year-old shared with Elle UK. “There was a lot of pressure playing such a complex role like Ryle, and of course, as a filmmaker, you’re always navigating personalities.”
He continued, “There are all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction that happens when you make a movie like this. Then at the end of the day, it’s that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art. Everything in life needs friction to grow. And look, we created something so beautiful and so magical, and it was hard, and it was worth it at the same time. And I grew so much as both a filmmaker, an actor, and as a person throughout this experience.”
While Baldoni’s words paint a picture of a creative process marked by typical challenges, the rumor mill tells a more dramatic story. The film, which deals with heavy themes such as domestic abuse, had its own set of challenges, and fans were quick to notice signs of tension among the cast.
Speculation of a rift started when eagle-eyed fans noticed that none of the principal cast members—Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Isabela Ferrer, and Alex Neustaedter—followed Baldoni on Instagram, even though he follows them all. Notably, even the author of the novel, Colleen Hoover, doesn’t follow Baldoni. For fans, this was the first red flag that something might be off.
The whispers grew louder when Baldoni was notably absent from press events promoting the film, despite his dual role as actor and director. While Blake Lively, Brandon Sklenar, and others were seen at various media engagements, Baldoni’s absence was explained by a rumored hospitalization. However, the nature of this absence remains unclear, fueling more gossip.
By the time the New York City premiere rolled around on August 6, 2024, the rumors had reached a fever pitch. Although everyone attended, Baldoni did not pose for photos with his co-stars or even watch the movie in the same auditorium. According to a Page Six report, “Baldoni sat in his one theater at AMC Lincoln Square with family, friends, and execs from Sony and Baldoni’s production company, while Lively watched the movie in a different theater with her own guests.”
Even more telling was Jenny Slate’s response when asked about working with Baldoni as both a co-star and director. Her carefully worded answer avoided direct praise, saying, “I mean, what an intense job, to have to do so many things. I just found myself being like, ‘Wow, I really just want to have one job at once.’” While her comments could be interpreted as a reflection on the difficulty of multitasking, the omission of any direct mention of Baldoni raised eyebrows.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Hollywood Reporter revealed issues during post-production, claiming that “a fracture among the filmmakers in the postproduction process” led to two different cuts of the movie emerging. Blake Lively reportedly commissioned her own cut of the film, though it’s unclear which version made it to theaters. While an insider downplayed the tension, noting that multiple cuts are not uncommon, the mere fact that there were two versions hinted at deeper creative disagreements.
More troubling were reports from Page Six and Daily Mail that described Baldoni as creating a difficult environment on set. Sources claimed he made Blake Lively “uncomfortable” and was “dismissive” of her concerns, particularly during scenes depicting abuse. “Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them,” one source alleged, adding that his approach was “chauvinistic.”
On August 12, TMZ shared a video from May 2023 showing what appeared to be a heated argument between Lively and Baldoni on set. Eyewitnesses described Lively as “visibly annoyed,” further fueling the narrative of discord.
By now, the speculation had reached a point where it was impossible to ignore. A source told People that the issues were not just between Lively and Baldoni, but that the entire principal cast, along with Colleen Hoover, had “nothing to do with him.”
Despite the drama, It Ends With Us has been a commercial success, grossing $50 million in its opening weekend and earning a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the real story behind the film’s production remains shrouded in mystery. With all eyes on the potential sequel, It Starts With Us, the question remains: Will Justin Baldoni return, or will Blake Lively step into the director’s chair as he hinted she might? Interestingly, in when he was asked if he would return to star in and helm the sequel film, Justin said: “You’re gonna have to ask me in a little while. We’re gonna take a vacation after this. I think there are better people for that one. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct. That’s what I think.”
For now, all we have are the rumors, the speculation, and the hope that the beautiful art born from friction was worth all the drama.
