It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover sent scathing email threatening to pull out of premiere if Justin Baldoni attended

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Colleen Hoover privately asked studio leaders to rethink having Justin Baldoni at the premiere of ‘It Ends With Us’ because of growing disagreements happening behind the scenes.

A recently revealed email from the legal case between Blake Lively and Baldoni shows the author felt “beyond uncomfortable” with Baldoni being nearby.

The author of the novel that became the controversial film shared her worries in a message to two Sony executives last July. She explained she didn’t want to attend the premiere if a certain actor, Baldoni, was also there.

The email, which became public through court documents, revealed that Hoover appreciated the movie and how it adapted her book, but she also felt trapped by disagreements and poor communication within the production team.

‘At this point,’ Hoover wrote, ‘things are beyond uncomfortable.’

She explained that she wasn’t taking sides, but rather trying to protect herself from increasing pressure and unclear expectations, especially as planning for the premiere became more stressful.

Regarding the event itself, Hoover explained she was no longer comfortable with being put in a position to deliver difficult news. She felt she was being treated as the bearer of bad news instead of being recognized for her accomplishments.

‘Am I going to be comfortable if Justin is there? No,’ she wrote plainly.

I was really hoping to see her at the premiere, but it sounds like it’s complicated. She hasn’t fully committed because she’s worried about being there if Justin Baldoni and the team are also attending. Honestly, she’s really struggling with the decision – part of her wants to be supportive, but the whole thing is just so emotionally draining for her that she’s also considering skipping it altogether.

The author sympathized with Lively, explaining that she understood why the actress might skip the event. She admitted she’d also find it difficult to celebrate with people she didn’t completely trust.

Hoover concluded by saying she’d back Lively’s choice, no matter what, and asked Sony not to make her responsible for whether or not Baldoni came to the event.

‘I definitely don’t want to be a scapegoat,’ she wrote.

You know, even though there were some bumps in the road with the premiere, I want to share that I’m committed to always speaking highly of the film. I truly believe it’s a wonderful adaptation, and I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who worked on it – they really did an amazing job bringing the story to life and honoring the original book.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Hoover and Baldoni’s representatives for comment.

People on X quickly voiced their disappointment with Hoover’s email, with many feeling she had supported the wrong position.

‘Above all else, I am truly aghast by the lack of professionalism in Hollywood,’ one scoffed. 

Another referred to Hoover as a ‘traitor’ and a ‘shameful sellout.’

Baldoni had previously stated that Lively insisted he not be present at the premiere, and claimed she made him and his family watch it from the basement.

In the lawsuit he filed against Lively – which was later dropped – Baldoni explained that the basement was set up like a temporary holding space. He described it as being surrounded by items for a concession stand and furnished only with folding tables and chairs arranged in a square.

According to his lawsuit, it wasn’t lost on anyone that Baldoni was celebrating what was likely a career-defining night surrounded by loved ones, soda, and good cheer… all in a basement. The situation felt particularly ironic given the importance of the occasion.

The email from Hoover arrived shortly after the Daily Mail published evidence of an email reportedly sent by Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband, to Hoover.

In a message sent the day after the film premiered on August 10, 2024, he excitedly declared the movie a huge success.

He also appeared to make fun of Baldoni, previously calling him a ‘dumb-dumb’ in private messages. In one message, he wrote that he was sorry to hear about Baldoni and his team getting sick in New York, jokingly suggesting it might be their bodies getting rid of any remaining influence from Baldoni himself.

He said he’d prefer an awful experience like being sick in a prison camp to pretending to be a feminist while simply repeating self-help slogans to himself.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, but they haven’t received a response yet.

I understand being a creative person, especially a gifted storyteller like you, isn’t always simple. It must be incredibly challenging to deal with people who have unclear motives and try to take advantage of your talent and success.

He was incredibly excited, exclaiming how amazing it was that they’d succeeded. He specifically praised Colleen and said the film was a huge hit with audiences, who were completely embracing it.

You and B created something amazing despite not having the ideal starting materials. That’s what makes both of you – and the entire post-production team – so essential to this project.

The email continued, saying the sender was aware everyone involved was privileged and fortunate. They also expressed sincere appreciation for the character of the recipients, referring to witnessing a humbling and satisfying experience – seeing someone deserving receive a firm reprimand in public – as something they wouldn’t forget.

Scarlett Johansson’s ex-partner continued to express his admiration for the author and his wife, saying he could write pages more about how much this meant to him. He praised the entire team for their hard work and noted Sony’s unexpected support, but ultimately shared that he was most proud and inspired by the author and his wife.

Honestly, as a big fan, I was pretty surprised by how much Ryan Reynolds seemed to be inserting himself into everything surrounding the movie, and that long email just didn’t sit right with a lot of us. A lot of fans, myself included, thought it came across as a bit awkward and, frankly, a little self-centered.

‘All of a sudden I appreciate my husband’s one-word text responses,’ one person quipped.

Many also pointed out that both Reynolds and Lively’s emails have a tendency to be lengthy.

I really struggle with their writing style – everything I’ve read from both of them is excessively wordy. It’s like they’re trying to use as many words as possible, even when it’s unnecessary.

‘After reading excerpts from how him and Blake speak…they’re made for each other.’

He could have simply congratulated her at the time, but instead, he avoided her and sent a self-important email.

‘I now have a tummy bug after reading that,’ another joked.

I’m actually feeling better about all my embarrassing old texts and emails after seeing this. Someone else joked that they couldn’t afford the data usage from all the messages being sent!

‘Him talking about performative feminism lol,’ someone else wrote.

A genuinely supportive person would have simply offered congratulations and suggested a celebration. It’s surprising this movie even got a theatrical release when it feels like something better suited for direct-to-video.

Can you believe someone could ruin their own and their partner’s reputation and job prospects all because of a movie based on a Colleen Hoover novel?

Someone else wondered why Ryan Reynolds was involved in the first place, reacting with disapproval after Reynolds and Lively were criticized for seemingly taking over the movie from Adam Baldoni.

Their communication feels really manipulative, and they constantly bring up Justin in every message. It’s like they’re fixated on him.

In previously hidden text messages, Reynolds referred to Baldoni with a dismissive nickname and suggested his wife was the primary reason for the film It Ends With Us‘s success at the box office.

Reynolds expressed frustration that the actor-director and those working with him weren’t facing the backlash after early reports surfaced about problems on the movie set.

Reynolds believes that Baldoni and others should directly address the rumors and speculation surrounding them. He argues they need to proactively and emphatically respond to the gossip immediately.

Reynolds discussed ways to protect his wife from negative press, worried she might be unfairly portrayed as a demanding or controlling person following reports of conflict on set.

Reynolds believes Baldoni and his team need to defend Lively. He also stated they should take responsibility for their inappropriate behavior and address it proactively, before it causes even more problems.

They created a significant mess. Blake absolutely should not be asked to clean up this disorganized and predictable disaster.

Reynolds expressed his frustration, saying Blake deserved to be enjoying the moment because she was the one who achieved this incredible victory.

He added: ‘She made this a win for Sony and by proxy, Wayfarer.’

Reynolds explained that Lively was incredibly dedicated to the film, working tirelessly and sacrificing time with her children. She reportedly spent countless hours in the editing room, meticulously refining every detail to ensure the highest possible quality.

Okay, so apparently, according to Reynolds, things weren’t all sunshine and roses on set! He said there was some serious tension between Baldoni and other people working on the movie. Like, real behind-the-scenes drama! I’m dying to know who! It just adds another layer to everything, you know? I’m completely obsessed with finding out all the details!

Reynolds stated that neither the actors nor any of the main crew – including Colleen – would be meeting with this person. He also mentioned that everyone involved had, at some point in the last six months, stopped following him on social media.

Not one person has said Justin’s name out loud in any interview at any time.’

Reynolds also used his comedic skills to write a mock letter that he thought Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath should have released to address the initial criticism.

The fake letter stated that their actions on the IEWU set were terrible and didn’t show the respect that Colleen Hoover and Blake Lively deserve.

And let’s not forget the dedicated cast and crew who worked hard despite a difficult and complicated filming process.

Reynolds stated that Baldoni and his team should have publicly acknowledged they were trying to figure out how they allowed a work environment to develop that lacked boundaries, safeguards, respect, and basic decency.

We want to be genuinely responsible, not just appear to be doing the right thing. The film IEWU is succeeding on its own merits, not because of our participation – in fact, it’s succeeding despite it.

The recent updates in this case follow a year-long and ongoing legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni.

In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment, unfair retaliation, and intentionally causing her emotional distress. Her claims included accusations of body shaming and efforts to harm her professional reputation.

The lawsuit also implicated several people who worked with Baldoni, including his company, Wayfarer Studios, its CEO, investors, and public relations team.

Baldoni initially sued The New York Times for $250 million, claiming a report damaged his reputation. He later increased that claim to $400 million in a lawsuit filed in January 2025.

He sued Blake Lively, her husband, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, but the case was dropped in June.

All parties have denied the allegations against them.

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2026-01-28 08:06