The drama It Ends with Us, which was released in August this year, became a box-office leader, grossing $350 million on a budget of $25 million. The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel tells the story of Lily Bloom, a florist who enters into an abusive relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle. The lead roles were played by Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

After the film’s premiere, rumors spread online about hostility between Blake and her co-star Justin on set. Reports suggest that a meeting was organized to address the tense atmosphere during filming. During the press tour, Lively and other cast members avoided interacting with Baldoni.

Recently, it was revealed that Blake filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for harassment and defamation. According to The New York Times, the lawsuit cites numerous incidents where Baldoni allegedly made Lively uncomfortable. These include entering her trailer without permission during makeup sessions and even while she was breastfeeding. Additionally, Baldoni reportedly showed Blake photos and videos of naked women, spoke openly about his pornography addiction and sexual life in vivid detail, discussed the genitals of actors and crew members, and commented on Lively’s weight.

Baldoni’s lawyer called the accusations «completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious, aiming to publicly defame and reshape the narrative in the media».

The Times also published communications between Baldoni, his publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan, who previously handled Johnny Depp’s PR during his legal battles with Amber Heard. According to the lawsuit, Baldoni consulted Abel for a «plan» in case Lively blocked him on social media during the film’s promotion – a concern stemming from the fact that her husband, 48-year-old Ryan Reynolds, had previously blocked Baldoni.

The «plan», based on materials obtained by The New York Times, involved presenting Baldoni in a favorable light by aligning him with the film’s central theme of domestic violence. This was followed by public criticism of Lively for allegedly not giving enough attention to the film’s core message. At this point, Melissa Nathan stepped in.

«We can bury anyone», one of Nathan’s messages states. Shortly after, old interviews of Lively, where she was rude to reporters, began resurfacing in the media. Baldoni is portrayed in the lawsuit as the mastermind behind this campaign.

While the court’s decision remains unknown, Baldoni has already faced consequences from the scandal: the WME agency has severed ties with him, and Colleen Hoover has publicly sided with Blake.

Photo: @itendswithusmov