Is There a Feud Between Stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?

It Ends with Us has finally hit cinemas, sparking excitement as the bestselling Colleen Hoover novel comes to life on the big screen. However, speculation is rife online about potential behind-the-scenes drama involving director Justin Baldoni and the rest of the cast.

Social media has been buzzing with the film’s worldwide press tour, showcasing Blake Lively in stunning outfits, including Britney Spears’ iconic 2003 Versace gown. Accompanied on the red carpet by her husband Ryan Reynolds and close family friend Hugh Jackman, Blake has certainly been in the spotlight.

Curiously, the one person Blake hasn’t been seen with is her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Despite his dual role as director and actor, Justin and Blake have not done any press events together, raising eyebrows among fans who draw comparisons to the tension-filled press tour of Don’t Worry Darling involving Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Olivia Wilde.

Adding fuel to the fire, fans have noted that while Justin follows Blake and the book’s author, Colleen Hoover, on Instagram, neither of them follow him back. This peculiar situation is further highlighted by their mutual friend Liz Plank’s social media activity. Liz, who co-hosts the podcast Man Enough with Justin, attended the premiere but only shared photos of Blake, making no mention of Justin.

In a red carpet interview, actress Jenny Slate, who stars as Allysa in the film, was asked about working with Justin. However, she avoided talking about him entirely, sparking more speculation about a possible rift.

When a reporter for Deadline asked Jenny about having Justin as both a director and scene partner, she responded cryptically: “What an intense job to have to do so many things… I really just want to have one job at once, I’ve often felt that way. I really like writing and acting separately.”

So, what’s really going on? There’s plenty of speculation about the potential conflicts between Justin and the cast. One theory suggests they clashed as producers, with Blake pushing for a different cut of the film. Another theory is that Blake took creative control, especially after revealing that Ryan Reynolds helped write a scene in the movie.

Blake mentioned, “We help each other. He works on everything I do. I work on everything he does. His wins are mine, and mine are his.” Despite these theories, there are no concrete details about any behind-the-scenes issues.

It’s worth noting that the rumors of a rift could be just that—rumors. Justin has been publicly complimentary about Blake. In an interview with People, he stated, “She is a creative force, an executive producer on the film, and she is brilliant. Her performance is going to help many women feel seen and showcase this unique experience in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

It Ends with Us is now playing in cinemas.

Source: People, Deadline