5 Shocking Scandals That Turned Blake Lively's 'It Ends With Us' Into Hollywood's Biggest Legal Drama
The highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, was meant to be a cinematic triumph, but as of today, December 19, 2025, it has become synonymous with a massive, unprecedented Hollywood legal and public relations nightmare. The movie, which premiered in August 2024, was quickly overshadowed by a series of shocking controversies that went far beyond typical fan casting debates, culminating in multi-million dollar lawsuits, sexual harassment allegations, and the author herself expressing profound regret.
This article dives deep into the five core scandals—from the on-set friction and fashion backlash to the explosive legal battles—that have cemented the It Ends With Us production as one of the most dramatic in recent memory. The latest developments, including a major trial postponement, reveal a saga that is far from over.
Blake Lively: Actress, Producer, and The Center of a Legal Storm
The woman at the heart of the controversy is one of Hollywood's most recognizable stars, known for her effortless style and high-profile marriage to Ryan Reynolds. Here is a brief profile of the actress who took on the challenging role of Lily Bloom.
- Birth Name: Blake Ellender Brown
- Born: August 25, 1987
- Birth Place: Tarzana, California, United States
- Profession: Actress, Director, Producer, Entrepreneur (Betty Buzz founder)
- Spouse: Ryan Reynolds (m. 2012)
- Career Highlights: Gossip Girl (Serena van der Woodsen), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Age of Adaline, A Simple Favor.
- Role in Controversy: Lead actress (Lily Bloom) and an executive producer on It Ends With Us, currently involved in a high-stakes legal battle with co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
1. The Explosive $400 Million Legal Battle and Sexual Harassment Allegations
The core of the "It Ends With Us drama" is a complex and public legal war between Blake Lively and her co-star/director, Justin Baldoni, who plays Ryle Kincaid.
The saga began when Lively reportedly filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during the film's production.
Baldoni swiftly countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, seeking a staggering $400 million in damages.
The countersuit reportedly claimed defamation and a conspiracy to sabotage the film's release and his career.
This legal mess has been the subject of countless headlines, with both sides trading public accusations and leaked documents, turning the movie's promotional period into a courtroom drama.
In the most recent update, the high-profile trial has been postponed until May 2026, ensuring the scandal will remain a talking point in Hollywood for over a year to come.
2. The Infamous 'Lily Bloom Wardrobe' and Self-Styling Backlash
Before the legal drama fully erupted, the first wave of controversy centered on Blake Lively's wardrobe as Lily Bloom.
Fans of Colleen Hoover's novel were quick to criticize the colorful, often loud, and high-fashion outfits Lively wore on set, arguing they were completely mismatched with Lily's character, who is described as being more modest and running a small flower shop.
The controversy deepened with reports that Lively had chosen to self-style the character, rather than relying on a professional costume designer.
A lawsuit later revealed claims that the actress refused to travel for costume fittings, instead demanding that the wardrobe be brought across Manhattan to her, adding fuel to the narrative of on-set friction and a perceived "diva" attitude.
Author Colleen Hoover even had to address the backlash, telling fans she was "not worried" about the clothes, but the criticism persisted, becoming one of the most discussed aspects of the film's production.
3. Colleen Hoover's 'PTSD' and Public Embarrassment
The drama surrounding the adaptation has taken a significant emotional toll on the book's author, Colleen Hoover, a figure who is typically beloved by her massive fan base.
Hoover, who wrote the book to help her understand her mother's trauma with domestic abuse, publicly stated that the film's legal drama gave her "PTSD to think about."
In a candid and shocking admission, the author confessed that she is now "embarrassed to say I wrote It Ends With Us" after the constant stream of negative news and the costars' legal battles.
This reaction from the source material's creator highlights the severity of the controversy, suggesting the off-screen events have permanently tainted the legacy of the story's powerful message about domestic violence and resilience.
4. The Co-Star Backlash: Brandon Sklenar Receives Death Threats
The collateral damage from the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni feud extended to other members of the cast, most notably Brandon Sklenar, who plays the fan-favorite character Atlas Corrigan.
Sklenar, who publicly supported Blake Lively amidst the escalating legal issues, became a target of online abuse.
In a devastating account, Sklenar recounted receiving death threats from fans who sided with Baldoni or were simply caught up in the toxic online environment surrounding the film.
His experience underscores how the intense, real-life drama has spilled over from Hollywood boardrooms into the lives of the actors, creating a hostile environment for those involved in the project.
5. Fan Backlash: Age Gaps, Casting, and 'Shady' Set Moves
Even before the legal battles, the film faced immense fan scrutiny, which contributed to the overall negative atmosphere.
The Age Gap: One of the initial controversies was the casting of 37-year-old Blake Lively and 37-year-old Justin Baldoni as characters who are significantly younger in the book's narrative, leading to widespread criticism about the age gap.
The Lily Bloom Look: Beyond the outfits, fans criticized Lively's overall appearance, arguing she did not match the physical description of Lily Bloom from the book.
"Shady" On-Set Behavior: As the drama escalated, social media posts and "receipts" began to surface, with fans calling out what they perceived as "low-key shady" moves on the set, adding to the narrative that the production was fraught with tension long before the lawsuits became public.
The combination of these public relations disasters—from the initial wardrobe shock to the final, explosive legal allegations—has ensured that the It Ends With Us movie will be remembered as much for its off-screen drama as for its on-screen story. With the trial looming in 2026, the final chapter of this Hollywood scandal is yet to be written.
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