Justin Baldoni, the director and star of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, It Ends with Us, reportedly felt “hurt and sidelined” during the production of the movie.

Tensions allegedly arose between Baldoni and co-star Blake Lively from the early stages of filming, with insiders claiming that the two had differing creative visions that led to a rift. The film, which has grossed over $100 million at the global box office, was plagued by rumors of a feud between the two leads.

According to sources, Baldoni felt that his input was not valued as much as Lively’s, leading to a stifling of creativity on set. The actress, who is also a producer on the film, was said to have made decisions without consulting Baldoni or his team, further exacerbating the tension.

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’ seen earlier this month in NYC

A second source disputed the claim, stating that Lively’s input was aimed at creating the best film possible and honoring the book. The insider explained that Lively worked closely with Colleen Hoover and other female team members on set, and that her decisions were not made behind Baldoni’s back.

The rumors of a feud between the two leads were further fueled by allegations that Lively felt “fat-shamed” by Baldoni on set. According to reports, Baldoni asked a trainer how much Lively weighed in preparation for a lifting scene, which made the actress uncomfortable.

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 (pictured at the It Ends With Us photocall in London on August 08, 2024

Baldoni has since hired a crisis public relations firm to represent him, amid swirling rumors of a feud with Lively. The actress, who welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds in February 2023, had reportedly felt uncomfortable during filming and had issues with Baldoni’s behavior on set.

Insiders claim that the rift between the two leads has caused tension among the cast and crew, with some actors allegedly exaggerating the feud to promote the film. The principal cast and Colleen Hoover are said to be distancing themselves from Baldoni, with sources stating that they will have “nothing to do with him” in the future.

The future of the franchise remains uncertain, with Baldoni’s behavior on set and the alleged feud with Lively potentially impacting future projects. The director has stated that he believes Lively is ready to direct a sequel, but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in the project.