In its debut weekend, romantic drama “It Ends With Us” became an immediate blockbuster hit, doubling its initial projection to gross $54 million in North America. But, that is not the biggest headline the Colleen Hoover novel adaptation made last week. The internet is instead abuzz with news of a rift between lead actress Blake Lively and co-star slash director Justin Baldoni.
Hints of discord first became apparent during the movie’s New York City gala premiere. While Lively and the rest of the cast, including Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and Isabella Ferrer, huddled up to take pictures together on the red carpet, Baldoni did not join them despite attending the event. And then Slate, who plays Baldoni’s character’s sister in the movie, pointedly ignored a question about him during an interview.
The rumor solidifies when fans begin noticing that Baldoni has been doing press rounds for the movie separate from the other cast members. When it came to light that the cast and Hoover have all unfollowed the “Jane The Virgin” star on Instagram (he still follows them), there is no denying that trouble is brewing.
This week came with more details about the alleged feud. According to TMZ, Lively and Baldoni clashed during post-production. Her camp insisted on a different cut of the movie presided by Shane Reid, editor of her husband Ryan Reynolds’ “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Baldoni’s cut, credited to Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan, ended up being pushed aside in favor of Lively’s despite testing better. There were also rumors going around about Baldoni allegedly being a nightmare to work with and that he fat-shamed his lead actress shortly after she gave birth last year.
While Lively hasn’t said a word, Baldoni made a quip at the premiere that the “Gossip Girl” star should direct the next movie, which he had no intention to work on – a comment that could have double meanings in light of everything. As the rumors intensify, he’s hired famed crisis PR Melissa Nathan, who worked with Johnny Depp during the Amber Heard trial.
It’s safe to say that when it comes to collaboration between the two, it ends with “It Ends With Us”.