Lead actor in ‘It Ends with Us’ Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds.
- Justin Baldoni’s concern over lifting Blake Lively led to a comment about her weight, which she reportedly interpreted as fat-shaming.
- Blake Lively allegedly felt Baldoni lingered too long during a kissing scene, further straining their on-set relationship.
- Justin Baldoni has hired a crisis PR expert, Melissa Nathan, to manage the fallout; Nathan represented Johnny Depp in his trial against Amber Heard.
It Ends with Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, continues to excel at the box office. However, sources reportedly revealed that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s relationship was far from harmonious behind the scenes.
Rumours surrounding tensions between the stars have taken centre stage.
According to TMZ, sources with direct knowledge said tensions between Lively and Baldoni began during a scene in which Baldoni was required to lift Lively into the air.
Baldoni was concerned about his history of back problems. He reportedly asked his on-set trainer how much Lively weighed and how he could train to protect his back from injury.
Allegedly, Lively was upset after hearing about the weight question and interpreted the comment as fat-shaming. The actor gave birth to her fourth child with her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, in February 2023.
TMZ reported that another incident that allegedly made Lively uncomfortable occurred during a kissing scene with Baldoni. Lively reportedly felt that Baldoni lingered longer than necessary during the kiss, which added to the strain between the two.
As the film’s lead actor and director, Baldoni’s approach to the scene reportedly left Lively uneasy.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Baldoni has hired crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan to manage the situation. Nathan represented Johnny Depp in his trial against Amber Heard in 2022.
Deadline reported that observers at the film’s NYC premiere on 6 August noted that Baldoni and Lively did not take photos together, fuelling speculation of a rift. Fans have also pointed out that Lively does not follow Baldoni on social media, further hinting at alleged discord.
According to TMZ, insiders reveal that while on-screen chemistry between actors often results from off-screen tensions, Lively and Baldoni’s relationship was more akin to co-workers who did not get along.
Lively reportedly played a significant role in the film’s editing and social media marketing, with some sources describing her as a force to be reckoned with.
Lively’s husband, Reynolds, even contributed to a scene, adding lines that some claim were not in the original novel.
Despite the reported friction, the film’s success at the box office suggests that whatever tensions existed behind the scenes did not diminish the final product.
REVIEW | It Ends with Us: Lacking depth, this love story hurts more than it heals
