Colleen Hoover says it’s now easier to separate the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni drama from the film adaptation of It Ends With Us. That claim collapses under the weight of her own court testimony. The power dynamics playing out between Lively, Baldoni, and the studio are the same dynamics the book romanticizes: a charismatic man, a woman caught in his orbit, and a narrative that blurs the line between conflict and chemistry.
Claiming to Separate Art From Controversy Ignores That the Drama Stems From the Same Power Dynamics the Book Romanticizes
In newly unsealed court documents from January 2026, Hoover revealed she threatened to skip the August 2024 premiere because she felt “beyond uncomfortable” about “everything happening behind the scenes.” In an email to studio executives, she wrote: “Am I going to be comfortable if Justin is there? No.” She attended anyway, but the deposition complicates the tidy separation she now promotes. According to feminegra.com, Hoover’s sworn testimony shows she reviewed competing cuts of the film and expressed a clear preference for Lively’s version over Baldoni’s, praising its humor and pacing. Her executive producer credit, which she described as “largely honorary,” did not stop her from aligning with Lively’s account during production disputes. Private text exchanges show Hoover supporting Lively and criticizing Baldoni’s conduct as the conflict escalated.
Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024 for sexual harassment and attempting to destroy her career—allegations he denied. Baldoni countersued. A settlement attempt in February 2026 failed. At the premiere, Baldoni and his family were reportedly held in a separate basement room; he and Lively did not interact on the red carpet. As Page Six reported, Hoover ultimately chose to support Lively “with whatever decision” she made. The author’s public Instagram posts praised Lively as “honest, kind, supportive and patient” and thanked her for refusing to “be buried.” Hoover deactivated her account in January 2025 amid the legal drama. In a November 2025 interview, she described the situation as feeling “like a circus” and admitted she might need therapy.
The controversy around It Ends With Us predates the Lively-Baldoni feud. The book has faced sustained criticism for romanticizing domestic violence. Critics argue the novel presents an abusive relationship as a romance story rather than a serious depiction of trauma. As Cosmopolitan reported, the narrative follows a problematic pattern: the abusive boyfriend uses physical abuse and manipulation, the protagonist easily forgives dangerous transgressions, and the boyfriend rarely apologizes. Jennie Young wrote in Ms Magazine that the book “romanticises red flags and glorifies a charismatic-but-dangerous man” and delivers “a decidedly anti-feminist message.” The 2024 film adaptation faced additional backlash for marketing the story as a romance with love-triangle elements. Domestic violence survivor Ashley Bendiksen told NPR the trailer did “a disservice to the fact that this could really raise awareness.” Lively’s promotion encouraging viewers to “grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see it” drew criticism for its tone-deaf framing.
What This Actually Means
Hoover cannot separate art from controversy because the controversy is the art’s shadow. It Ends With Us sells a fantasy in which a woman navigates a dangerous man’s orbit and emerges with agency. The real-world version—Lively navigating Baldoni’s alleged conduct, Hoover navigating both—mirrors that structure. The difference is that in life, there are no neat endings. Hoover’s belated claim that the drama is now “easier” to separate is a PR move, not a reckoning. The book’s power dynamics are playing out in the courtroom. That is not a coincidence.
Background
Who is Colleen Hoover? Margaret Colleen Hoover is an American author who primarily writes romance and young adult fiction. She is best known for It Ends With Us (2016), which has sold over 20 million copies and spent 164 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Who is Blake Lively? Blake Lively is an American actress known for Gossip Girl, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and It Ends With Us. She stars as Lily in the film adaptation and has publicly supported Hoover.
Who is Justin Baldoni? Justin Baldoni is an actor and director who directed and co-starred in It Ends With Us. He acquired the film rights through his company Wayfarer Studios. Lively sued him for sexual harassment in December 2024.
Sources
The Hollywood Reporter, Page Six, Feminegra, Deadline, Cosmopolitan, NPR