Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni has hired a crisis PR manager to represent him following reports of major “creative differences” and conflicts between him and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively.
Baldoni, 40, has hired renowned public relations crisis manager Melissa Nathan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Nathan is best known for representing Johnny Depp during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
The actor, who also directed the hit romantic film, addressed the on-set “friction” between him and Lively on Tuesday in an interview with ELLE UK.
Rumors of feud between Baldoni and Lively surfaced on TikTok ahead of the release of It Ends With Us after eagle-eyed fans noticed Baldoni was not present at press events promoting the film.
Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni has hired a crisis PR manager to represent him following reports of major “creative differences” and conflicts between him and his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively.
Fans also speculated that something was wrong between the cast after Baldoni and Lively failed to appear to pose for any photos together at the premiere of their film.
Justin Baldoni addressed “friction” on set while promoting his new film It Ends With Us amid rumors of a feud with co-star Blake Lively.
Baldoni, 40, described how tension during production can lead to “beautiful art” while promoting the new film during an interview with ELLE UK.
Baldoni stars in the film alongside Lively (who recently came under fire from fans for an interview she did with her co-stars) and is also directing the project.
The Jane The Virgin actor spoke about the challenges of dual roles as he described how tension can benefit a film.
“It’s quite a challenge to act and direct, especially with a project like this,” he explained. “There was a lot of pressure to play a role as complex as Ryle’s and of course, as a filmmaker, you’re always dealing with personalities.
Justin Baldoni addressed ‘friction’ on set while promoting his new film It Ends With Us amid feud rumors with co-star Blake Lively; pictured last week
‘Every day things happen on the set, there’s always friction when you’re making a movie like this. In the end, I think it’s that friction that creates the beautiful art.
“Everything in life needs friction to grow. And look, we created something so beautiful and magical, and it was hard, but it was worth it at the same time. And I grew so much as a filmmaker, an actor, and a person throughout this experience.”
Baldoni spoke positively of Lively, calling her a “creative powerhouse” and comparing her acting prowess to that of an elite Ferrari sports car.
“It’s like the difference between driving a Toyota Camry or a Ferrari. It’s like acting with someone who is like a Ferrari actor,” Baldoni said.
‘You move a little bit and then they respond, and it was really amazing in terms of helping me craft the performance.
“She touched so many aspects of this production and everything she touched she made better. She is very receptive and responsive.”
The interview comes amid rumors that Baldoni is embroiled in a feud with Lively.
People has reported that the breakup also includes the film’s main cast and Colleen Hoover, the author of the book the film is based on.
People reported on Monday that the main cast and Hoover ‘will have nothing to do with’ Baldoni.
Baldoni, 40, described how tension during production can lead to “beautiful art” while promoting the new film during an interview with ELLE UK.
“Not everything is as it seems” regarding Baldoni, who also reportedly had a falling out with the film’s lead star, Blake, amid production on the movie, a source told People on Monday.
“There’s a lot more to this story,” a source told the outlet. “The main cast and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with it.”
Although the director had “creative differences” with some of his collaborators on the film, reports of tension during the making of the movie had been “exaggerated,” a source close to Baldoni told People on Monday.
The source added that Lively “wants to direct the next film, putting him aside and securing Colleen’s rights.”
Adding to speculation about tension between the director and the film’s star was the fact that Baldoni declined to take photos with the entire cast during the film’s New York City premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on Aug. 6, People reported.
Baldoni spoke positively about Lively, calling her a “creative powerhouse” and comparing her acting prowess to the elite Ferrari sports car.
Baldoni was photographed posing alongside his wife Emily Baldoni, 40, family members and producers at the film’s debut.
Baldoni presided over an “extremely difficult” environment for the cast and crew, Page six reported, citing multiple sources, noting that Lively felt personally “uncomfortable” during filming.
A source told the outlet: “None of the cast members enjoyed working with Justin; they certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere.”
Sources close to the event told Page Six that Lively and Baldoni watched the film in “two separate rooms” at the venue.
Sources close to the matter told the outlet that Baldoni “would never intentionally make his cast feel unsupported.”
The bad blood between Baldoni and Lively could affect future projects in the franchise, as she may not direct a sequel based on Colleen Hoover’s 2022 book, It Starts With Us, the follow-up to the current film’s source novel, 2016’s It Ends With Us.
The film, which is based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 book, was released last week.
Baldoni, whose production organization Wayfarer Studios owns the rights to the book, appeared to distance himself from directing a sequel in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the premiere.
“I think there are people better suited to this. I think Blake Lively is ready to direct, that’s what I think,” Baldoni said.
Sources told DailyMail.com on Friday that Baldoni behaved in a “chauvinistic” and “almost abusive” manner during the filming of the movie, and had been “dismissive” of suggestions made by Lively “during scenes depicting abuse”.
The source added that Baldoni “failed to take Blake’s character’s perspective into account, instead focusing solely on what he believed to be the abusive male point of view” and that “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 almost abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic.’
People reported Monday that the main cast and Hoover “will have nothing to do with” Baldoni.
According to a synopsis for the film, Lily (Lively) “overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life, as “a chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection, but Lily begins to see aspects of him that remind her of her parents’ relationship.”
The film, which also stars Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, finished second at the domestic box office over the weekend with $50 million and grossed $80 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.