Justin Baldoni felt ‘sidelined’ by Blake Lively on the set of It Ends With Us as drama escalates

Justin Baldoni reportedly felt “hurt and marginalized” while starring in and directing the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, It Ends with Us.

From “day one,” experts say the 40-year-old filmmaker and Blake Lively, 36, continued to grow during the making of their film, which surpassed the $100 million mark at the global box office in its first week.

“There were two camps on the film: Team Blake and Team Justin. This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and led to them stopping speaking to each other,” a source told the BBC. We weekly.

The source continued: “[Justin]was made to feel like his vision wasn’t as important as Blake’s, and that stifled creativity on set.”

Baldoni is also said to have taken it personally that Lively made several decisions about script and costume changes “often without consulting” him or his team.

However, a second source insisted that “any changes or input from Blake were to create the best possible film and honor the book.”

“Blake was a producer and worked closely with Colleen and other female crew members on set. Without (Justin’s) involvement, it doesn’t mean (she) was acting behind his back,” the source explained.

A third source claimed the Gossip Girl alum “doesn’t think highly” of Baldoni.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that she allegedly felt “weight-shamed” by Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us.

Amid rumors of a feud between the duo, a new report has shed light on two alleged instances involving Baldoni that made Lively feel uncomfortable during the making of the film.

TMZ The alleged weight-shaming reportedly arose from the preparation of a scene in the film in which Baldoni lifted Lively into the air.

Sources close to the event told the website that Baldoni suffers from back problems and sought the help of a trainer before the lifting scene.

Baldoni reportedly asked the trainer how much Lively weighed and asked for help in preparing her back to avoid injury.

When Lively found out about Baldoni’s comments, she reportedly felt embarrassed for him.

Lively welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds in February 2023, and sources shared with TMZ that the comment really affected the actress.

TMZ sources also cited another alleged instance that upset Lively on set.

The duo were filming a kissing scene and sources claim Lively believed Baldoni “lingered” longer than necessary for the kiss.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Baldoni and Lively for comment.

TMZ previously reported that insiders don’t think Baldoni is the obvious villain in the feud, and several of his It Ends With Us co-stars are backing him up.

Some insiders also claimed that several actors are exaggerating the gap to promote the film.

Amid the feud rumors, Baldoni has hired a crisis PR firm to represent him. Baldoni is turning to respected crisis PR manager Melissa Nathan for help, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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 It was reported Monday that the main cast and Hoover “will have nothing to do with” Baldoni.

“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 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 was 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.

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.’

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.”