New York, Dec 22, (V7N) - The film It Ends with Us had all the ingredients for a Hollywood hit: A-list actress Blake Lively, her co-star and director Justin Baldoni, and a popular novel by Colleen Hoover being adapted for the big screen. But despite the buzz and high expectations, the film's release has sparked an ongoing controversy that continues to make headlines.

A Successful Film, But Tensions Behind the Scenes

Released in early August, It Ends with Us proved to be a commercial success, grossing $148 million at the box office. The film’s plot centers around Lily Blossom Bloom (played by Blake Lively), a florist who falls in love with a neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid (played by Justin Baldoni). As their relationship develops, Lily reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar). Beneath the romance, the film also addresses sensitive issues such as domestic abuse. However, despite the film's box office success, a rift between Lively and Baldoni disrupted the press tour, with rumors of behind-the-scenes tensions quickly emerging.

The Alleged Feud Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

Reports surfaced that a rift between Lively and Baldoni, which appeared to begin before the film's release, played out publicly during the promotional tour. The two stars were noticeably distant from each other during interviews, avoided posing together on the red carpet, and did not appear together at the film's New York City premiere in August. Lively was pictured with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and other co-stars, while Baldoni walked the red carpet alone with his family.

Further tension was seen when Baldoni, despite being both the director and a lead actor, did not introduce the film at the premiere alongside Lively and author Colleen Hoover. These signs of estrangement raised questions about what was happening behind closed doors.

Lively's Legal Allegations Against Baldoni

Blake Lively’s legal team recently filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, shedding light on the depth of her allegations against Baldoni. According to Lively's lawyers, the rift between her and Baldoni was not only personal but also professional. The complaint claims that Baldoni had orchestrated a campaign to "destroy" Lively's career by manipulating public perception, using a PR team to smear her reputation.

The allegations against Baldoni are serious, with Lively’s lawyers accusing him of inappropriate and predatory sexual behavior. The complaint details instances where Lively and other cast and crew members allegedly experienced unwelcome, invasive, and unprofessional behavior during the film's production. Lively's legal team claims that Baldoni’s PR team, led by crisis management executive Melissa Nathan, worked to silence her and counter her private complaints of harassment by planting negative stories in the media.

Astroturfing: The PR Manipulation Strategy

A central part of the complaint is the claim that Baldoni's PR team engaged in "astroturfing," a deceptive practice in which fake grassroots support is created to sway public opinion. The filing alleges that Nathan and other members of Baldoni’s team planted stories in the media to discredit Lively and shift the narrative in Baldoni's favor.

One example includes a conversation between PR team members, where a story from Daily Mail titled “Is Blake Lively set to be CANCELLED?” was celebrated by the PR team as a successful piece of sabotage. The complaint also mentions a negative article in Page Six, owned by the New York Post, which allegedly planted the story that Lively had approved the final cut of the film during her feud with Baldoni.

The Impact of These Allegations

Baldoni has long been a public advocate for issues such as domestic violence prevention and has built his career on promoting healthy masculinity. He co-hosts the popular podcast Man Enough, which addresses toxic masculinity, and uses his social media platforms to raise awareness about domestic violence prevention. In fact, during the promotion of It Ends with Us, Baldoni actively supported the No More Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence.

However, the allegations against him have raised doubts about his true stance on these issues, especially considering the serious nature of Lively's complaints. Baldoni's behavior during the promotion of the film, combined with the allegations of harassment and media manipulation, has painted a complicated picture of his character and motivations.

The Public's Reaction

The public's response to these events has been polarized. While some fans and social media users criticized Lively’s focus on her personal brand during the film's promotion, claiming she was not adequately advocating for domestic violence prevention, Lively has maintained that these criticisms were part of the smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni’s PR team.

In the ongoing saga, the primary question remains: Was Baldoni truly a victim of a public relations disaster, or did his actions and the resulting media manipulation have a more sinister, calculated purpose?

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding It Ends with Us highlights the complex dynamics at play in Hollywood’s public relations machine and the dark side of celebrity feuds. As Lively's legal battle continues, it sheds light on the lengths to which some individuals may go to protect their reputation—and the consequences for those who are caught in the crossfire. This is a developing story, and more details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings unfold.

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