Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni has taken yet another unexpected twist.
As their $400 million lawsuit rages on, Lively is now facing scrutiny over contradictory statements she made about Colleen Hoover,
the author of the novel on which the film is based.
has uncovered two separate interviews in which Lively shared conflicting accounts of her knowledge of Hoover before taking on the role,
sparking fresh speculation about her credibility in the ongoing feud with Baldoni.
Lively’s Contradictory Statements About Hoover
Before production began on It Ends With Us, Lively gave an interview to TheMovieReport.com, where she admitted she was unfamiliar with Hoover before being approached for the film. She recalled receiving the offer while in the car with a friend named Eden, 25, who was excited upon hearing Hoover’s name.
“I felt like I lived under a rock because I hadn’t heard of Colleen Hoover before they came to me with this movie,” Lively said. She went on to describe how her friend’s enthusiasm made her realize how significant Hoover’s work was to a younger audience.
“I thought, that’s so interesting that a 25-year-old who has access to every bit of information possible, everything you get on social media apps, all the streaming, all the optionality… for a name to cut through like that to a younger generation really made me perk up.”
However, in a separate interview with Sony Pictures, Lively appeared to contradict herself entirely. In this conversation, she claimed to have been familiar with Hoover and even suggested that the author’s reputation was a driving factor in her decision to take the role.
“The reason that I was excited to do this movie is that I saw the mention of your name, and I was like, oh, wow, her voice resonates with people, how she tells stories, and what she’s telling reaches out and grabs so many people,” Lively stated.
She continued by explaining her connection to the film’s main character, Lily:
“And then I fell in love with Lily. I wanna play this woman because I understand why she experiences what she experiences. There was an authenticity to it that’s really powerful.”
These opposing statements have raised eyebrows, particularly as Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni continues to unfold.
Tensions Between Lively and Baldoni Escalate
Lively’s statements about Hoover are just the latest controversy in her ongoing legal dispute with Baldoni. Fans first speculated that something was amiss between the two stars when they noticeably avoided posing for photos together, did not follow each other on social media, and refrained from doing joint interviews during the film’s promotion.
In December 2024, Lively confirmed the feud by filing a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of inappropriate behavior on set that caused her “grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety.” The Gossip Girl star’s allegations sent shockwaves through Hollywood, leading to intense public scrutiny of Baldoni.
Baldoni swiftly denied the claims and responded by taking legal action of his own. He first filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over their coverage of Lively’s accusations. Shortly after, he escalated his legal battle by launching a massive $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and damage to his career.
New Evidence Released by Baldoni’s Team
Over the past several weeks, Baldoni’s legal team has begun releasing text messages and emails to support his case. Though the contents of these messages have not been fully disclosed, sources suggest they could counter Lively’s claims and provide insight into the behind-the-scenes tensions between the two actors.
Meanwhile, Colleen Hoover has found herself caught in the crossfire of their legal war. While the author has yet to publicly comment on Lively’s conflicting statements, fans have noted that Hoover has remained neutral throughout the lawsuit.
Hollywood’s Most Heated Legal Battle Continues
With the trial set for 2026, the feud between Lively and Baldoni shows no signs of cooling down. What started as a professional collaboration on a highly anticipated adaptation has now turned into one of the most explosive legal showdowns in Hollywood.
As more details emerge, Lively’s conflicting remarks about Hoover add yet another layer to the case, leaving fans and industry insiders questioning what the next chapter of this high-stakes courtroom battle will bring.
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