Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni spotted arguing while filming in New Jersey

Blake Lively and her “It Ends with Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni were spotted having a heated discussion while filming the romantic drama in New Jersey last year. Seen on May 17, 2023, the interaction was captured from inside a Hoboken restaurant and showcased a clear tension between the two.

Lively, 36, and Baldoni, 40, seemed to be in a disagreement, with Lively moving her hands animatedly before veering away from Baldoni, who was also gesturing emphatically. The clip culminated with Lively saying ‘OK’ to Baldoni.

The footage first surfaced on the Instagram Stories account of a user named Jill Amos and was later republished by The Hoboken Girl. Amos initially captioned the Instagram Stories clip, ‘Have received a few Qs on the latest #drama and yes they were arguing lol.’

Page Six later reported that Baldoni had created an ‘extremely difficult’ environment for the cast and crew, leading to Lively feeling ‘uncomfortable’ during filming. A source disclosed, ‘None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin – they certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere.’

Sources clarified to TMZ that Baldoni was directing the scene but not acting in it. One on-set source mentioned that he and Lively ‘were not upset with each other’ and were simply ‘in between takes, and talking.’

A separate source not involved with the film mentioned that Lively ‘rarely looked thrilled’ on multiple occasions during the shoot, suggesting some underlying tension. The film deals with heavy themes such as domestic violence, which might add to the speculation.

Adding to the rumors about discord, Baldoni didn’t participate in taking full cast pictures during the movie’s New York City premiere on August 6. He only posed alongside his spouse, Emily Baldoni, relatives, and producers. Insiders also noted that Lively and Baldoni watched the film in ‘two separate theaters’ at the venue.

Insiders suggested that Baldoni ‘would never intentionally make his cast feel unsupported.’ Despite this support, the tension between Baldoni and Lively might impact future collaborations. There’s speculation that Baldoni might not direct a sequel based on Colleen Hoover’s 2022 book “It Starts With Us,” the follow-up to the 2016 source novel for “It Ends With Us.”

Interestingly, Baldoni hinted at not directing the sequel during a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the premiere. He said, ‘I think that there are better people for that one – I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think.’

Sources told DailyMail.com that Baldoni exhibited ‘chauvinistic’ and ‘borderline abusive’ behavior during the filming. He was reportedly ‘dismissive’ of Lively’s suggestions during scenes that depicted abuse. According to the source, Baldoni ‘failed to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, focusing instead on the abusive male viewpoint.’ The source added, ‘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 borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic,’ the source further alleged.

“It Ends with Us” follows Lily (played by Lively) as she overcomes a traumatic childhood and starts a new life. A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection, but Lily begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ relationship. The film also stars Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar, and Kevin McKidd. Over its opening weekend, the movie earned $50 million domestically and $80 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.

Given the reported on-set tension and behavior, the film’s behind-the-scenes dynamics might spark further discussions about workplace conduct and director-actor relationships in Hollywood.

Source: TMZ, Page Six, DailyMail.com