Blake Lively claims her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni fat-shamed her, the kiss between the two lasted longer: reports

Amid reports of a rift between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the former has levelled harassment charges against Baldoni.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | August 15, 2024 01:09 PM IST

3 min read

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in a still from It End With Us. (Sony Pictures)

The box office success of It Ends With Us is undeniably sweet, but the behind-the-scenes story is turning sour by the day. What was initially anticipated as a tearjerker romance is now embroiled in controversy, with lead actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni at its epicenter. Rumours of a rift between the two stars first surfaced when they conspicuously avoided each other during the film’s premiere. Now, explosive allegations are threatening to overshadow the movie’s success. According to multiple sources, Lively has accused Baldoni of harassment, including claims of fat-shaming and inappropriate on-set behaviour. According to a report in The Time Magazine, Lively has been speaking about the actor-filmmaker making her ‘uncomfortable during the filming of It Ends With Us, a movie adaption of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller.

The outlet reports that during a scene where Baldoni had to lift Lively, he inquired about her weight to prepare for the stunt due to his back issues. Lively reportedly felt this was insensitive, especially considering her recent pregnancy. For the unversed, Lively gave birth to her fourth child in February 2023. Another allegation against Baldoni is that he kissed Lively for a little longer than it was meant to be while doing a scene in the film. The 36-year-old reportedly expressed discomfort with a kissing scene, alleging that Baldoni prolonged the intimate moment beyond what was required. Amid accusations of harassment, reports have emerged of Baldoni hiring Johnny Depp’s crisis PR manager, suggesting he anticipates a challenging public relations battle.

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Earlier, reports of a “fracture” among the makers during post-production had surfaced, with Blake Lively, who was also a producer, commissioning her own cut of the film, said The Hollywood Reporter. While some suggest this might indicate a feud with director Baldoni, others claim multiple cuts are common in filmmaking and the final product was a collaborative effort.

The absence of joint press appearances between Lively and Baldoni further fueled speculation about their rift. Netizens have also noted that they didn’t follow each other on social media. Lively, in the past, also revealed that Ryan Reynolds contributed to a significant scene, sparking rumours of creative clashes. However, multiple sources have clarified that Reynolds didn’t write the entire scene. Lively has also alluded to a tense on-set disagreement without naming Baldoni.

Meanwhile, It Ends With Us opened to a massive $50 million at the North American box office. This impressive figure is particularly noteworthy given the film’s modest $25 million budget.

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