Bestselling author Colleen Hoover has publicly voiced her support for Blake Lively following the actress's sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the "It Ends with Us" film adaptation.
In an emotional Instagram Stories post shared on December 21, Hoover posted a photo of herself embracing Lively at a movie screening, accompanied by a heartfelt message: "@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
The author's show of solidarity came after news broke of Lively's legal complaint against Baldoni, which details allegations of misconduct during the film's production. According to documents obtained by multiple media outlets, Lively's complaint outlines concerning behavior on set and claims of a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni and his team.
The lawsuit alleges that following a producers' meeting to address Lively's concerns, agreements were made regarding appropriate on-set conduct, including restrictions on improvised intimate scenes and unwanted physical contact. However, Lively claims these agreements were followed by coordinated efforts to damage her reputation.
Baldoni's legal representative, Bryan Freedman, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious."
Hoover, who served as an executive producer on the film adaptation of her bestselling novel, has maintained unwavering support for Lively throughout the production and promotional period. Her recent statement adds a notable voice to the developing story, as both the author and actress have worked closely together to bring the story to screen.
The "It Ends with Us" film, released in August 2024, tells the story of Lily Bloom, portrayed by Lively, as she navigates a relationship marked by domestic abuse. The future of the planned sequel, "It Starts with Us," remains unclear as these legal proceedings unfold.