‘It Ends With Us’ Author Colleen Hoover Says It’s Now “Easier to Separate” Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Controversy From Film

It Ends With Us Author Colleen Hoover Says Its Now Easier to Separate Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Controversy From Film

Colleen Hoover is looking at It Ends With Us in a new way following the legal drama involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, which was adapted into a 2024 feature film starring Lively and Baldoni, appeared on Jenna Bush Hager’s Open Book podcast to promote her new…

Colleen Hoover is looking at It Ends With Us in a new way following the legal drama involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, which was adapted into a 2024 feature film starring Lively and Baldoni, appeared on Jenna Bush Hager’s Open Book podcast to promote her new film, Reminders of Him, when she was asked about the ongoing legal battle between the two stars.

A few months after the film’s release, Lively sued her director-co-star Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and creating a hostile work environment in a complaint. Baldoni has denied her allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, which published the actress’ complaint. A legal battle between the pair has been playing out in court.

On Thursday’s episode of Open Book, Jenna Bush Hager asked Hoover if it was hard to have a film about issues close to her wrapped up in the drama.

“It is, but it’s getting easier to separate it because I do look at the success of it,” Hoover said. “Opening weekend, we just were all so shocked at how much readers showed up for it and how well it did and how much it resonated. I am so proud of that movie. I think the actors, the director, everyone did such a good job making it that I have to look at everything else separate from the film, from the book.”

She added that it’s been “unfortunate,” but she’s “very much grateful that we got to see it come to life.”

In November, Hoover also reflected on the movie, telling Elle magazine, “I feel like [the lawsuit] has overshadowed it. I’m almost embarrassed to say I wrote it. When people ask what I do, I’m just like, ‘I’m a writer. Please don’t ask me what I wrote.’”

Lively and Baldoni’s trial is set for May 18.

Similar Posts

  • ‘Love + War’ Review: Conflict Photographer Lynsey Addario Opens Up in an Emotional Doc From ‘Free Solo’ Helmers

    Posted on

    American Pulitzer prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario is profiled in Love + War, a rock-solid documentary feature and the latest collaboration between filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, who made doc Free Solo and the biographical drama Nyad together. Assembled from the rich pickings of Addario’s own still photography plus material shot by photojournalists she…

  • David Matalon, Co-Founder of TriStar Pictures and Former Regency CEO, Dies at 82

    Posted on

    David Matalon, a film executive and producer who co-founded TriStar Pictures and served as the CEO of Regency for several years, died on Tuesday. He was 82. Matalon died at his home in Beverly Hills, Searchlight Pictures’ Nastasya Morauw confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. His cause of death wasn’t immediately available. Born on July 5,…

  • Where to Watch the 2025 Emmy Awards Online for Free

    Posted on

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. The 77th Annual Emmy Awards, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, will air live on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, from downtown Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE….

  • Don Lemon Released After Arrest Over Coverage of Minnesota Church Protest

    Posted on

    Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been released after his arrest stemming from his reporting of a protest at a Minnesota church. Marilyn Bednarski, his lawyer, said he later intends to plead not guilty. “He’s committed to fighting this case,” she said. During a hearing at a downtown Los Angeles courthouse on Friday, U.S. District…

  • One Battle After Another Named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics

    Posted on

    nt</div>n</div>nttt</div>ntttt</div>n”,”data”:[{“divId”:”gpt-dsk-tab-list-inbody1-uid0″,”displayType”:”medrec”,”targeting”:[{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-body1″},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”mid”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-bodyX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-listX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-list1″},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”btf”}],”lazyLoad”:”no”,”lazyLoadMultiplier”:2,”zone”:”list/inbody1″,”sizes”:[[300,250]]}]}},{“ID”:1236463073,”position”:1,”positionDisplay”:”02″,”date”:”2026-01-02 17:08:10″,”modified”:”2026-01-03 17:15:47″,”title”:”Best Director”,”subtitle”:null,”slug”:”best-director-192″,”caption”:””,”description”:”ntttt nnnnnnnnnnn ntWinner:</strong> Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another</em></strong></p>nnnn ntRunners-up:</em>Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident</em></em></em>Richard Linklater, Blue Moon </em>and Nouvelle Vague</em></p>n</div>”,”alt”:””,”image_credit”:””,”url”:”https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2026-national-society-of-film-critics-winners-list/”,”image_id”:0,”image”:””,”sizes”:{“pmc-gallery-s”:[],”pmc-gallery-m”:[],”pmc-gallery-l”:[],”pmc-gallery-xl”:[],”pmc-gallery-xxl”:[]},”fullWidth”:0,”fullHeight”:0,”mime_type”:”image”,”ad”:””,”appleSongID”:null,”enableAppleGA”:false,”additionalDescription”:null,”subtitleColor”:null,”additionalSubtitle”:null,”additionalSubtitleColor”:null,”ads”:{“html”:”t nttttt nttttn nt nttnt</div>n</div>nttt</div>ntttt</div>n”,”data”:[{“divId”:”gpt-dsk-tab-list-inbodyx-uid1″,”displayType”:”medrec”,”targeting”:[{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-bodyX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”mid”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-listX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”btf”},{“key”:”viewable”,”value”:”yes”}],”lazyLoad”:”yes”,”lazyLoadMultiplier”:2,”zone”:”list/inbodyX”,”sizes”:[[300,250]]}]}},{“ID”:1236463066,”position”:2,”positionDisplay”:”03″,”date”:”2026-01-02 17:07:06″,”modified”:”2026-01-03 17:16:48″,”title”:”Best Actor”,”subtitle”:null,”slug”:”best-actor-187″,”caption”:””,”description”:” ntttt nnnnnnnnnnn ntWinner:</strong> Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon</em></strong></p>nnnn ntRunners-up:Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent </em></em>Michael B. Jordan, Sinners </em></em></p>n</div>”,”alt”:””,”image_credit”:””,”url”:”https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2026-national-society-of-film-critics-winners-list/”,”image_id”:0,”image”:””,”sizes”:{“pmc-gallery-s”:[],”pmc-gallery-m”:[],”pmc-gallery-l”:[],”pmc-gallery-xl”:[],”pmc-gallery-xxl”:[]},”fullWidth”:0,”fullHeight”:0,”mime_type”:”image”,”ad”:””,”appleSongID”:null,”enableAppleGA”:false,”additionalDescription”:null,”subtitleColor”:null,”additionalSubtitle”:null,”additionalSubtitleColor”:null,”ads”:{“html”:”t nttttt nttttn nt nttnt</div>n</div>nttt</div>ntttt</div>n”,”data”:[{“divId”:”gpt-dsk-tab-list-inbodyx-uid2″,”displayType”:”medrec”,”targeting”:[{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-bodyX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”mid”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”in-listX”},{“key”:”pos”,”value”:”btf”},{“key”:”viewable”,”value”:”yes”}],”lazyLoad”:”yes”,”lazyLoadMultiplier”:2,”zone”:”list/inbodyX”,”sizes”:[[300,250]]}]}},{“ID”:1236463075,”position”:3,”positionDisplay”:”04″,”date”:”2026-01-02 17:08:52″,”modified”:”2026-01-03…

  • Sofia Alaoui’s Supernatural ‘Animalia’ to Get U.K., Ireland Release via TAPE Collective (Exclusive)

    Posted on

    London-based TAPE Collective has acquired Sofia Alaoui‘s Moroccan-French genre-bending supernatural feature Animalia for a theatrical release in the U.K. and Ireland. The deal was negotiated by Isra Al Kassi of TAPE Collective and Margot Hervée of Paris-based sales agent Totem Films. The Animalia release in cinemas is set for Dec. 12. The movie premiered at…