The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel ‘It Ends with Us’ was meant to spotlight domestic abuse through a heartfelt romance. Instead, it exploded into one of Hollywood’s messiest feuds, pitting stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni against each other in lawsuits and public spats. Now, author Colleen Hoover is speaking out, sharing her embarrassment and sadness over how the controversy overshadowed her story’s core message.
Legal firestorm takes center stage
Filming wrapped in 2024 amid whispers of tension, but things boiled over when Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department on December 20, 2024. She accused Baldoni who directed and starred opposite her, of creating a hostile set with alleged sexual harassment, such as improvising kisses and boundary violations. Lively also claimed Baldoni launched a “social manipulation” campaign to tarnish her reputation, causing emotional distress.Baldoni fired back through his attorney Bryan Freedman, calling the allegations “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious” in a statement to TMZ on December 21, 2024. Freedman accused Lively of threatening not to promote the film and demanding changes like no added sex scenes or discussions of genitalia on set. Reports from The Hollywood Reporter detailed her list to Wayfarer Studios, including bans on nude images or mentions of Baldoni’s past “pornography addiction.” Baldoni’s team argued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and producer Jamey Heath coordinated to derail his career and the film’s domestic violence focus.The feud escalated with Baldoni suing Lively and The New York Times for defamation, though a judge dismissed it on October 31, 2025 for missing deadlines. Lively’s harassment suit heads to trial in March 2026.
Hoover’s heartfelt response
Colleen Hoover, whose 2016 book sold millions, stayed mostly silent until November 2025. In an Elle interview on November 20, 2025, she called the saga “a circus,” saying, “This actually truly has impacted some of the actors’ careers in huge ways, and I just find it all around sad.” She added, “I don’t want to have to put someone else down to lift myself up. So I’d rather just ignore it and let people think and say what they’re going to say,” explaining her choice to avoid negativity despite having “sides to [her] story.”Hoover admitted embarrassment about the film, telling Elle, “It feels so substantial now that there’s nothing anyone can say to alter whatever views people hold, even though the actual truth remains elusive to everyone, including myself.”In an episode of Open Book with Jenna Bush Hager, Hoover said, “It is, but it’s getting easier to separate it because I do look at the success of it. Opening weekend, we just were all so shocked at how much readers showed up for it and how well it did and how much it resonated. I am so proud of that movie. I think the actors, the director, everyone did such a good job making it that I have to look at everything else separate from the film, from the book.” Hoover remarked that while the situation was regrettable, she remains deeply appreciative of the opportunity to see her story adapted for the screen.
More about ‘It Ends With Us’ movie
‘It Ends with Us’ follows Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively, as she navigates love, trauma, and difficult choices. Her relationship with Ryle Kincaid, portrayed by Justin Baldoni, forces her to confront painful patterns while rediscovering strength, self-worth, and the courage to break cycles of abuse.
