The recent release of the film It Ends With Us, based on the book by Colleen Hoover, has sparked controversy among viewers and fans of the original novel surrounding Blake Lively’s attitudes towards the serious themes of the film. Hoover’s book heavily incorporates domestic violence into its narrative, yet the lead actress has faced criticism from fans due to her apparent undermining of this topic in interviews and press coverage for the film.
Many fans have also noticed a rift between lead actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Scepticism surrounding the relationships between the actors arose when fans spotted that Justin Baldoni, also a producer of the film, was not seen with any other actors at premieres or press for the film, who now no longer follow him on social media. When the cast was asked about their experiences working with Justin Baldoni, many dodged the question. Furthermore, when Baldoni was asked how it was to direct the film and if he would be directing the second, he stated that he would not and that Blake Lively would be a better fit.
In promotional interviews, Lively and Baldoni’s contrasting attitudes towards the film have caused fans to create theories as to why Baldoni has been ostracised by the other actors. Lively had a lot of creative influence over this film and it is rumoured by fans that she pushed out Baldoni to have more of a say. She also stated that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, re-wrote some of the scenes in the film which took it away from the original text of the novel.
Many fans of the book have expressed disappointment that key parts of the narrative weren’t included in the film. Essential moments that express the love between the main characters, including the protagonist naming her daughter after her first love, have not been included in the adaptation, nor has the true extent of the abuse that the character experiences in the book. It is rumoured that this is due to the creative influence of both Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds.
A conspiracy between fans is that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds used the film as a trial run before Lively tried directing her own film. It is theorised that they pushed out Baldoni and then used the press for Reynold’s latest film Deadpool & Wolverine to promote It Ends With Us and vice versa, in an attempt to recreate the ‘Barbenheimer’ craze of 2023. However, despite Baldoni’s attempts to keep the film as close as possible to the book, Colleen Hoover showed that she agreed with Lively’s creative direction of the film, even with its deviation from the book.
Lively’s character has been questioned by fans on social media, especially after past interviews have resurfaced where reporters have complained about her bad attitude. One interview in particular has left a lasting impression. In 2016, Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa congratulated Lively on her pregnancy by saying “Congratulations on the little bump”. Lively in turn responded with, “Congratulations on your bump”, a comment that hurt Flaa deeply as she is unable to have children.Fans feel that Lively has lost touch with the film’s message, specifically its theme of domestic violence. During the promotion, many of the cast members including Lively portrayed it as a lighthearted romcom, with marketing campaigns encouraging fans to come with their girls and wear florals. She also frequently redirected interview questions to promote her hair care brand, Blake Brown, and other ventures like Betty Booze and Betty Buzz.
Some survivors of domestic abuse have expressed on social media that they feel she is out of touch and doesn’t fully understand the film’s themes. Fans have compared interviews of both Baldoni and Lively and some have deemed that Baldoni is more focused on raising awareness of domestic violence.
Justin Baldoni has received praise for how he handled interviews, often highlighting the non-profits he partnered with, such as the No More Foundation, an organisation dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. He mentioned that they helped him ensure the film accurately represents the experiences of domestic violence victims and the relationships between them and their abusive partners. The organisation’s work in helping real-life victims was also a focus of his interviews.
When an interviewer on the red carpet stated that Baldoni should be proud of himself and his work on the film, he responded “If a Lily Bloom in real life can sit in this theatre, and make a different choice for herself than the one that was made for her, maybe she sees herself on that screen and chooses something different for herself”. He also expressed that it wasn’t his night but Blake Lively’s, Colleen Hoover’s and every real-life Lily Bloom's (the main character who is a victim of domestic violence in the film). Baldoni’s Instagram account provides resources for victims of domestic violence and promotes the work done by the No More Foundation.
In an interview on CBS, Baldoni responded to questions about domestic abuse victims by saying “It’s easy to ask, especially as men, ‘Why do women stay?’ But the real question we need to ask is, ‘Why do men harm?’ This was not an easy story to tell, and yet it was profoundly important. I’ve learned so much”. In contrast, when Lively was asked in an interview about how victims can share their own experiences with her if they related to the film, she answered: “Maybe asking for, like, my address, or my phone number. Or, like, location share?! I could just location-share you and then we could…”. This response has faced much criticism on its own, without the rest of the interviews and rumours.
The release of It Ends With Us has incited significant debate, not just about its accuracy to Colleen Hoover’s novel, but also about the responsibilities of filmmakers when handling sensitive subjects like domestic violence. The contrasting approaches of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have highlighted the complexities involved in adapting such a powerful story for the screen. While Lively’s influence and creative direction may have been met with mixed reactions, she has the author’s approval in adapting her book onto the screen. On the other hand, Baldoni’s commitment to the core themes of the book has resonated strongly with many fans and advocates.
The film’s reception underscores the challenges of balancing artistic vision with audience expectations, especially when adapting a story that touches on significant and serious themes. As the conversation around It Ends With Us continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the themes at the heart of the narrative. Whether or not the film succeeds, it has sparked crucial discussions about domestic violence and its portrayal in popular media.
If you or someone you know about is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National
Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247.
