Why Blake Lively is suing Justin Baldoni: A guide to the It Ends with Us feud as she accuses him of harassment
As a seasoned movie enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the rollercoaster ride of “It Ends With Us” was nothing short of extraordinary. The film, despite its initial controversy, managed to break box office records and stir up quite a storm in Hollywood.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have found themselves embroiled in debate since they acted together in the movie “It Ends With Us.
It appears that during the promotion for their romantic drama, fans picked up on some tension between the main actors, and it looks like a potential sequel featuring both of them might not happen after all.
4 months following the summer blockbuster release of the film, Lively, aged 37, filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual misconduct while working on the movie’s production.
According to reports from TMZ, the actress who stars in Gossip Girl alleges that Baldoni, aged 40, created a harmful work atmosphere, where the director reportedly displayed explicit videos and pictures of other females, as well as discussing his past alleged struggle with pornography.
Baldoni’s group denied the accusations, stating that the lawsuit was aimed at restoring Lively’s tarnished reputation following the troubled film’s debut.
As the summer premiere of their film approached, the main actors have found themselves embroiled in continuous controversy since the movie’s August debut, which turned out to be a box office sensation.
This comes amid her husband Ryan Reynolds facing backlash after he claimed Lively grew up ‘very working class.’
Baldoni reached out to Colleen Hoover after he read It Ends With Us for the very first time.
He remembered the time, about a decade ago, when she published her book. Only later did he understand the profound effect that book would have on him.
The narrative unfolds around Lily Bloom, a young woman pursuing her ambition to establish a florist business in Boston.
She meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid and they fall in love, but their whirlwind romance quickly changes when he begins hurting her.
In a challenging situation involving an abusive relationship, she’s grappling with decisions regarding her future path.
When he finished reading the book, the tale deeply resonated with him and he communicated this to Hoover by messaging her, expressing his inability to shake off the story from his thoughts and proposing the idea of turning it into a film.
At the conclusion of the book, I found myself so overcome with emotion that I couldn’t decipher the words on the page due to my tears, as he shared during his interview on CBS Mornings while discussing the film.
As an ardent fan, I pondered if such an impact resonates within me so profoundly, I can’t help but wonder about the transformative potential it holds for women and those globally grappling with similar circumstances. After all, each of us carries our unique situations or patterns that we strive to break free from.
He explained that they ended up becoming ‘pen pals.’ He recalled how he only had the sole intention to direct the movie, but Hoover encouraged him to star in it too.
A few years following his first message, he declared that he had ultimately made up his mind to assume both the roles of director and lead actor, and commence the hunt for his costar.
They found her in Lively, who also served as an executive producer on the movie.
How did the feud rumors begin?
At the chilly media event, viewers detected strain between the two main actors. Whispers of a dispute started when Lively cheerfully took pictures with every cast member except Baldoni.
The prominent actors, such as Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, and Hasan Minhaj, occasionally participated alongside Lively, yet they didn’t attend all the gatherings.
In this scenario, Isabela Ferrer was cast as the youthful depiction of Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively, alongside Alex Neustaedter in his role as teenager Atlas.
In these moments, I found myself gracing red carpets at events in both London and Copenhagen, while my esteemed colleague carried on with a series of press engagements in the bustling heart of New York City.
Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that Lively and Hoover unfollowed Baldoni on Instagram.
Investigators observed that Lively only followed Slate, Sklenar, Ferrer, Minhaj, and Neustaedter on Instagram, but not Baldoni; however, Baldoni reciprocated by following the entire cast.
Regarding Hoover, she’s now focusing on Lively instead of Baldoni, despite their past collaborations such as posting photos together and jointly promoting a movie in May.
As for the other actors mentioned earlier, the majority merely followed Lively, but Minhaj stood out by following both Lively and Baldoni.
Furthermore, Baldoni would conduct interviews on his own, whereas Lively might appear with any of their fellow cast members, excluding Baldoni.
What happened on set?
In the midst of rumors suggesting a conflict, those close to the situation disclosed the worrying facts behind the on-set disagreements.
According to sources, there were conflicts between the actors during filming due to his perceived dismissal of her suggestions, particularly when it came to scenes involving abusive scenarios.
According to sources close by, Baldoni was reportedly fixated on what he perceived as a biased perspective from males, which some considered overtly masculine or male-dominated in his approach towards the subject matter.
According to the source, during instances where abuse was being portrayed, Justin tended to focus only on his own interpretation of the abusive male point of view, rather than considering Blake’s character’s perspective.
‘His approach was very chauvinistic, creating a tense atmosphere on set. Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic.
It’s troubling that, while making such an essential and heavy film on domestic abuse, no women were involved in its direction.
The insiders said things only got worse once he began to feel ‘ganged up on’ by the women on set.
Currently, he appears to be offering compliments, perhaps due to the concern that they may expose him for his actions. It is suggested that he anticipates the repercussions and might attempt to shift blame onto his role as a method actor.
A new disagreement emerged concerning the weight that Baldoni needed to know beforehand, as it related to the scene where he was expected to lift Lively.
In simpler terms, the well-known actress is believed to have expressed feeling uncomfortable due to what she perceived as being body-shamed, while people close to Baldoni clarified that he was merely taking precautions for his injured back, not intending any form of shaming.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Lively not only acted in the production but also utilized her role as a producer to request a fresh edit of the movie from film editor Shane Reid. This editor is well-known for his work on Ryan Reynolds’ successful films Deadpool and Wolverine.
It’s unclear if any scenes or elements from Reid’s edit made it into the final film, as it was credited to editors Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan.
On the contrary, it appears that not every member of the cast and team has chosen to support Lively. A source suggests this, claiming that several individuals believe Baldoni was unfairly treated creatively.
Production sources quashed rumors saying that many in the crew view Baldoni favorably.
According to sources who spoke with TMZ, Baldoni is often considered a pleasant colleague to work with and demonstrates significant concern for the project.
What did they say on the frosty press tour?
During the chilly press tour, Lively and Baldoni chose not to address the controversy surrounding their supposed feud head-on, however, they shared some behind-the-scenes insights about their movie’s production.
In an interview with Today, Baldoni discussed his challenges in dealing with intricate individuals and aligning everyone towards a shared vision.
He added: ‘Mistakes are always made, and then you figure out how to move past them.’
Additionally, he discussed the hurdles he encountered when both directing and acting in the film.
As a proponent of the “best idea prevails” philosophy, I’ve consistently leaned towards this mindset, perhaps even to an excessive degree. At times, my openness to change might lead others to question my decision-making abilities or my perspectives, given my eagerness to adapt my vision. However, I firmly believe that inspiration and creativity are not the sole dominion of one individual. Instead, they emerge from a dynamic interplay of ideas, collaboration, and diverse perspectives.
Instead of saying “There were just moments where I would get out of the way too much,” he expressed it as “I didn’t always listen to everyone.
He mentioned that several of the concepts originated from Lively, whom he described as highly engaged and significantly improving the quality of the movie.
He shared with Access Hollywood that there were numerous situations where he genuinely stepped aside, allowing her to guide the direction.
In the process of creating their film, Lively discussed creative disputes, specifically mentioning a dispute regarding whether to include Lana Del Rey’s song “Cherry” within the movie.
She stated on Hits Radio UK, “They asked me to remove that song from the movie. I shouldn’t be discussing this matter, but since they found the song too intense and heavy, and given that things were still amicable with Ryle at that time, it was important not to stir up any additional tension.
Speaking from my perspective as an ardent observer, regarding my fellow cast members like Sklenar, I chose not to discuss any undercurrents of tension and instead voiced only praise for the exceptional talents of Rachel Lively and Baldoni.
As an ardent admirer, let me share that Sklenar couldn’t help butsing the praises of Baldoni. He was simply phenomenal, masterfully juggling the roles of a director, leading actor, and producer all at once. Truly remarkable!
He told People that he found the whole team he gathered simply outstanding. Everyone involved in the movie was at the peak of their abilities, making it an enjoyable atmosphere to be part of the production.
About Lively, he gushed about her ability to ‘seamlessly wear all these hats.’
I simply can’t express enough praise for her sincerely. To this very day, she consistently leaves me in awe with her remarkable strength and influence as a woman.
Instead of standing idly by, he came to the aid of his fellow cast members when they faced criticism over their seemingly insensitive and diva-ish behavior on the press tour.
He expressed on Instagram on August 20 that Colleen and the female cast members symbolize optimism, determination, and the empowerment of women making positive choices for themselves.
Criticizing or condemning the women who poured their heart and soul into creating this movie, as they are deeply passionate about its message, appears to be contradictory and takes away from the film’s essence. Instead, it goes against the very essence of what the movie stands for.
In the midst of all the turmoil, Baldoni sought assistance from the highly respected PR crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
She gained notoriety by advocating for Johnny Depp during the court case involving his defamation claim against his former spouse, Amber Heard.
How did the cast approach topic of intimate partner violence in the movie?
In interviews and through their social media platforms, both Baldoni and Lively have openly discussed the issue of domestic violence and provided helpful resources.
Nonetheless, Lively faced criticism as she approached the topic with a less serious tone than Baldoni during interviews, and utilized the film’s media coverage to market her personal brand.
Critics accused her of being insensitive and lacking depth when she conducted an interview with her fellow actors from “It Ends With Us”, without addressing the film’s profound underlying theme.
In due course, Blake utilized Instagram to disclose details about domestic abuse and provide relevant resources for her audience. She penned, “Every person merits a relationship devoid of domestic violence.
Lively was also slammed online for turning an interviewer’s serious question about domestic violence into a ‘joke.’
When journalist Jake Hamilton inquired whether individuals who empathized with her character’s experiences would feel comfortable discussing it with her should they encounter her in real life, her snarky comment sparked a wave of indignation.
Instead of suggesting that domestic violence victims reach out to professionals for aid or listing resources they could use, Lively found humor in the idea of personally assisting such victims.
She retorted sarcastically, “Go ahead and ask for my address or my phone number.” However, instead of that, how about if I simply send you my location details, and then perhaps we could…” She left the sentence hanging before bursting into laughter.
On the criticism that the movie romanticizes domestic violence, Baldoni shared his thoughts.
He shared with AP that he believes their perspective is completely valid, and it’s quite logical why they might hold such views.
In essence, we find ourselves immersed in a society that regrettably elevates numerous aspects. The struggle for recognition is prevalent. We are part of an economy that values attention. We’re living in a world dominated by sensational headlines, where everyone is striving to attract attention. Observe the news cycle; it permeates our surroundings. Therefore, it’s quite understandable that people might feel this way.
In his own words, he stated, ‘Additionally, if anyone has gone through such a personal experience, I can only imagine how challenging it might be for them to picture their story unfolding in a romance novel. Let me make clear, we took great care when creating this film.’
Amid the social media backlash, Sony Pictures Entertainment defended Lively.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on August 14th, the CEO of the studio, Tony Vinciquerra, stated that Blake, Colleen, and numerous other women dedicated immense effort to creating this exceptional film. From the very beginning, they worked tirelessly without hesitation to ensure that a sensitive and crucial topic was portrayed thoughtfully.
1) “People are really enjoying the film. The dedication and zeal that Blake shows in tackling the topic of domestic violence deserves praise. It’s a pleasure collaborating with Blake, and we hope to make another 12 films together.
What happened after the movie release and awkward press run?
In contrast to numerous other projects that see their success impeded by controversy, It Ends With Us managed to thrive at the box office despite any such issues.
The movie earned an impressive total of $351 million globally, making it extremely successful. It started off strong with opening weekend earnings exceeding $50 million, and it ended up being the twelfth highest-grossing film worldwide in that calendar year.
It was a surprise box office hit considering the drama as the budget was reportedly $25 million.
Lively’s most successful film surpassed the earnings of Green Lantern from 2011, where her spouse Reynolds played the lead role. This movie also turned out to be Baldoni’s highest-earning project both as an actor and a director.
Nevertheless, It Ends With Us garnered a variety of opinions from critics, with a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
After several months had passed, during the holiday season, Lively filed a lawsuit against her previous colleague and director.
She asserted that during filming their movie, Baldoni created a harmful work environment by exhibiting inappropriate behavior such as sharing explicit videos and photos of women, including herself, and frequently discussing past allegations about his former pornography addiction.
She asserted that Baldoni asked uncomfortable questions regarding her weight, brought up topics about her deceased father, and made suggestive comments about the cast and staff members of a sexual nature.
In the heat of my fervent passion for their work, I found myself deeply troubled by the escalating chaos on set. As an ardent fan, I couldn’t help but feel compelled to voice my concerns. And so, amidst the tumultuous filming, my beloved stars requested urgent meetings, aiming to curb the problematic behavior, as reported in the lawsuit.
The document states that she additionally asked for a prohibition on incorporating extra sex scenes, oral sex, or explicit climaxes involving Blake Lively, beyond what was agreed in her script during the time she signed up for the project.
According to the lawsuit, although the studio supposedly agreed to the demands, the release of the movie was delayed due to a disagreement between Lively and Baldoni over the film’s marketing strategy.
Lively asserted that Baldoni’s group subsequently embarked on a strategic effort aimed at damaging her public image by manipulating social interactions.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, retaliated against the lawsuit by calling it ‘unfounded, excessive, and deliberately scandalous with a purpose to cause public harm.’
He maintained that the lawsuit is simply an effort by Lively to ‘improve her tarnished image’ following allegations of difficult, demanding behavior during filming.
As a lifestyle expert, I can tell you that in certain situations, artists might make bold moves like hinting they won’t attend film sets or refuse to support the movie promotions. These actions, if persistent, can significantly impact a film’s success during its release, as reported by Freedman.
The film “It Ends With Us” garnered significant attention throughout the year after its August premiere, unfortunately, for less desirable reasons.
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2024-12-21 22:50