New court documents have uncovered author Colleen Hoover's apparent disappointment and frustration during the highly publicized feud between stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni surrounding the film adaptation of her bestselling novel 'It Ends With Us.'
Text Messages Reveal Author's Distress
According to documents obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, Wayfarer Studios filed a declaration containing multiple exhibits, including alleged text messages exchanged between Hoover and Baldoni. The messages show Hoover expressing her growing concerns about the public conflict between the film's stars.
In August 2024, Baldoni reportedly shared a text message from Hoover with his public relations team. "It just feels like I'm on an island here," Hoover allegedly wrote, revealing her sense of isolation amidst the escalating tension.
The author, who served as executive producer for the 2024 film adaptation, continued: "I know things took an awful turn, and I felt forced to choose when I did not want to, but the back and forth articles from both camps are just so upsetting and ridiculous."
Production Conflicts and Script Concerns
Hoover's messages indicate deeper issues within the production team. She expressed concern that the public feud was damaging the project's reputation, stating: "It's making everyone working on this movie look immature."
The author also revealed script-related disappointments, claiming she wasn't allowed to read the script until "I was sat with readers." However, she noted that subsequent interviews created the false impression that she had been involved in script development from the beginning.
Hoover directly addressed her grievances with Baldoni, writing: "I have been disappointed personally by your actions many times." She acknowledged that he hadn't made negative public statements but urged him not to use his platform to harm her reputation.
Legal Battles and Ongoing Consequences
The text message exchange also included Baldoni's response, where he apologized that Hoover was "hurting" and asserted that they didn't control the headlines. He maintained that he had "deeply cared about you for the past five years" and that his feelings hadn't changed.
The legal conflicts between the stars began in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. Baldoni's lawyers denied the accusations and claimed the lawsuit was filed to "fix her negative reputation" and "rehash a narrative" around the film's production.
Baldoni subsequently filed his own lawsuit against Lively, though the case was dismissed in June. Meanwhile, Lively's sexual harassment case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026, ensuring the conflict will remain in public view for the foreseeable future.
