Justin Baldoni felt ‘sidelined’ by Blake Lively on It Ends With Us set

Justin Baldoni reportedly felt ‘hurt and sidelined’ while starring and directing the film adaption of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, It Ends with Us. 

From ‘day one’ insiders claim the filmmaker, 40, and Blake Lively, 36, continued to escalate throughout the creation of their movie, which crossed the $100 million mark at the global box office in its first week.

‘There were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin. This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore,’ a source told Us Weekly.

The insider continued: ‘[Justin] was made to feel that his vision wasn’t as important as Blake’s, and it stifled the creativity on set.’ 

Baldoni is also said to have taken it personally that Lively made various decisions script and wardrobe changes ‘often without consulting’ him or his team.  

A second source, however, insisted that ‘any changes or input by Blake was to create the best film possible and [to] honor the book.’ 

“Blake was a producer and worked closely with Colleen and other female team members on set. Without [Justin’s] input does not mean [she went] behind his back,” the insider explained. 

A third source claimed that the Gossip Girl alum ‘does not have a good opinion’ of  Baldoni. 

Earlier this week, it was revealed that allegedly felt ‘fat-shamed’ by Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us. 

Amid swirling rumors of a feud between the duo, a new report has shed light on two alleged instances involving Baldoni that made Lively feel uncomfortable during the making of the film. 

TMZ reports that the alleged fat-shaming stemmed from preparation for a scene in the film which saw Baldoni lift Lively into the air.

Insiders told the website that Baldoni suffers from back problems and sought assistance from a trainer prior to the lifting scene. 

Baldoni allegedly asked the trainer how much Lively weighed and asked for help preparing his back to avoid incurring an injury. 

When Lively learned about Baldoni’s comments, she allegedly felt fat-shamed by him. 

Lively welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds in February 2023, and sources shared with TMZ the remark really got to the actress.  

TMZ sources also cited another alleged instance that bothered Lively on the set.

The duo were filming a kissing scene and sources claim Lively believed Baldoni ‘lingered’ longer than was necessary for the kiss. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Baldoni and Lively for comment. 

TMZ previously reported that insiders do not believe Baldoni is the obvious villain in the feud, with several of his It Ends With Us colleagues supporting him.

A few insiders also claimed several actors are exaggerating the rift to promote the movie.

Amid the swirling feud rumors, Baldoni has now hired a crisis public relations firm to represent him. Baldoni is turning to the well-regarded PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan for help, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

People has reported the rift also includes the principal cast of the film and Colleen Hoover, the author of the book of which the film is based on.

People reported on Monday that the core cast and Hoover ‘will have nothing to do with’ Baldoni.

‘All is not what it seems’ in regards to Baldoni, who also reportedly clashed with the film’s leading star Blake amid production of the motion picture, a source told People on Monday.

‘There is much more to this story,’ a source told the outlet. ‘The principal cast and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him.’

While the director had ‘creative differences’ with some of his collaborators on the motion picture, reports of tension while making the film had been ‘overblown,’ a source close to Baldoni told People Monday.

The source added that Lively ‘wants to direct the next movie, sidelining him and securing the rights from Colleen.’

Adding to the speculation about tension between the director and star of the film was Baldoni foregoing taking full cast pictures during the movie’s New York City premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on August 6, People reported.

Baldoni was pictured only posing alongside his spouse Emily Baldoni, 40, relatives and producers at the debut of the film.

Baldoni presided over an ‘extremely difficult’ environment for cast and crew, Page Six reported, quoting multiple sources, noting that Lively was personally ‘uncomfortable’ amid filming.

A source told the outlet, ‘None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin – they certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere.’

Insiders told Page Six that Lively and Baldoni watched the motion picture in ‘two separate theaters’ at the venue.

Separate insiders told the outlet that Baldoni ‘would never intentionally make his cast feel unsupported.’

The hard feelings between Baldoni and Lively could impact future projects in the franchise, as he might not direct a sequel based off Colleen Hoover’s 2022 book It Starts With Us, the follow-up to the current film’s source novel, 2016’s It Ends With Us.

Baldoni, whose production organization Wayfarer Studios possess the rights to the book, appeared to distance himself from directing a sequel in a red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight at the premiere.

‘I think that there are better people for that one – I think Blake Lively’s ready to direct, that’s what I think,’ Baldoni said.

Sources told DailyMail.com Friday that Baldoni behaved in a ‘chauvinistic’ and ‘borderline abusive’ manner during filming of the motion picture, and had been ‘dismissive’ of suggestions made by Lively ‘during scenes depicting abuse.’

The source added that Baldoni ‘failed to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, instead focusing solely on what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint’ and that ‘his approach was very chauvinistic, creating a tense atmosphere on set.

‘Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic.’

According to a logline for the film, Lily (Lively) ‘overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life, as ‘a chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection but Lily begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ relationship.’