It Ends With Us is not just the book that resonated with audiences when it was published; in reality, it also ended camaraderie for two actors. Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, who portrayed their characters in the movie as Ryle Kincaid and Lily Bloom, are now in a constant feud over retaining their image and sustaining their credibility in the movie industry. Everything was perfect during those initial days, when Justin, the director and actor of the movie, had all planned out since the shooting began for the film, It Ends With Us, to create a remarkable impression on viewers.
But, controversies rose after the release, thus drawing everyone’s attention. In December 2024, Blake Lively, the leading actress of the film, accused Justin of sexual harassment during shooting. This news sold as hot cake in the cinibuzz, because one spot in the career can drop you down permanently. Since then, both Justin and Blake have been persistently in the news, where each day’s unfolding of new stories breaks the hidden silence.
We know Blake obviously from Gossip Girl, where her character Serena van der Woodsen receives significant media attention apart from her boyfriend, Dan. And now, ironically, Blake’s real life since the case began has been under scrutiny by the global lens. On the other hand, Justin’s work includes Jane the Virgin, Five Feet Apart, Everwood, and more, making him a familiar face across various genres and platforms.
It Ends With Us…
Colleen Hoover, an American author, published her book It Ends With Us in 2016. Its theme explored domestic violence, romance, and relationships, which resonated with audiences. Immediately after reading the book, people developed an infatuation with the story. The book’s success led to the publication of a sequel, called It Starts With Us. However, the film’s adaptation of It Ends With Us added an extra cherry on top of a successful journey.
Excerpts?
One can say that all the book-adapted films differ in their narrative. It is true because in the feature-length film, not all the characters from the book can be highlighted. Instead, directors and creators add a cinematic touch and flair for the viewers while retaining the core plot. Director Justin Baldoni, as envisaged, has brought all the characters to life, especially the film’s leading character, Lily Bloom, who falls for Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon.
Meanwhile, their relationship takes a different turn upon the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, Atlas. However, Ryle and Lily consummate their marriage, but oblivious to the facts and blind in love, Ryle’s hidden personality, a physical abuser, remains unnoticed. In the end, her confrontation with Ryle puts a closure to all the ordeal that she had endured during her marriage to Ryle.
Sexual Harassment
Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni on the grounds of sexual harassment, and a public smear campaign was launched to destroy her reputation and defame her public image. However, Justin denied the allegations and countered by accusing Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others of extortion and defamation. Every day, their feud increased from the previous day. Blake’s allegation against Justin includes, unwanted kissing scene improvisation during shooting, inappropriate talk with her about pornography addiction, and walking into her trailer while she was breastfeeding her infant.
Apart from this, Blake also released text messages containing Justin and his PR manager, Melissa Nathan and publicist Jennifer Abel, which appeared to show attempts to discredit her and manipulate the narrative. To all the accusations, Justin’s team countered by releasing the texts, which claim to have been omitted by Blake’s team to portray Justin as the bad guy.
Did Consent Help?
Further to her unravelling of text messages, Lively provided another information that brought a fresh perspective. Before commencing the shoot, Blake’s team sent an email to Wayfarer Studios’ lawyers placing a set of conditions before them. If these conditions aren’t agreed upon by all parties, Blake is entitled to take legal action. However, the studio and the rest of the team, especially Justin Boldoni, proceeded further upon consent. Moreover, failing to adhere to consent resulted in backlash and a battle between Justin and Lively. Nonetheless, this consent protected her privacy and helped set boundaries in the set.
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IT ENDS WITH US
While the characters in the film or book might have said this, It Ends With Us. But the real actors who portrayed their characters also said the same thing. Earlier, Lively had accused Justin of causing her mental breakdown and emotional distress. Recently, after a couple of months in the constant battle with oneself and with the world, Lively has withdrawn these claims because the court ordered her to provide a mental history and records of previous incidents.
As the days pass, their expressions of genuineness are becoming stronger. Both are good actors and confident professionals, yet their personal lives have taken an emotional toll. People around the world are divided in their opinions: some support Lively, while others side with Justin. Although they may have chosen different paths now, fans of It Ends With Us are still reflecting on the events surrounding them and hoping for a resolution to these issues. Many fans eagerly anticipate seeing their beloved Ryle and Lily on screen again.
Written By: Tejswini Prasad