It ends with the cast’s quotes about Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

The cast of It ends with us brought the drama to the screen – and it seems there was just as much drama happening off camera.

The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover‘s novel hit theaters in August 2024. Blake Lively was cast as lead actress Lily Bloom, who becomes a victim of domestic violence in her relationship with Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni). As she considers leaving Ryle, a childhood love interest returns.

Despite playing the two leads, Lively and Baldoni did not promote the film together, which quickly led to speculation about tension on set. In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and “severe emotional distress.”

According to the lawsuit, a meeting was held in January 2024 to address some of Lively’s concerns about the film’s production. She requested that “no more nude videos or images of women be shown to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged prior ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions of sexual conquests in the presence of Blake and others, no further mentions of genitals of cast and crew. , no more questions about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s late father.

Lively further demanded “no more addition of sex scenes, oral sex or on-camera climaxes by BL beyond the scope of the script that BL approved when he signed on to the project.” Lively accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation. (Leading up to the film’s release, Lively was criticized online for seemingly ignoring the topic of domestic violence in her promotion. She later shared resources about intimate partner violence on social media.)

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedmancalled Lively’s allegations “completely false, outrageous and deliberately salacious” in a statement We weeklyclaiming that Lively filed her lawsuit to “repair her negative reputation.”

Lively, for her part, denied this in a statement The New York Times that she spread negative information about Baldoni. “I hope my legal action will help pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak out about wrongdoing and help protect others who may be targeted,” she said.

Keep reading for quotes from Lively and Baldoni’s costars about it It ends with us:

Brandon Sklenar

Sklenar, who played childhood Atlas, released a lengthy statement about the alleged drama in August 2024. [Hoover] and the women of this cast represent hope, perseverance, and women choosing a better life for themselves. “Slandering the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about,” he wrote via Instagram, seemingly in defense of Lively amid backlash against her. promotion of the film. “It’s actually the opposite of the point.”

Sklenar noted that it felt “disheartening” to see the “negativity” online ahead of the film’s release. The actor further emphasized that “there is not a single person involved in the making of this film” who was not “aware of the responsibility we had in making this.”

A month later Sklenar said Access to Hollywood that he spoke out because It Ends With Us is “an important film for so many women and for so many survivors of domestic violence” with the intention of “making people feel heard, strong and loved.” He added: “To project anything other than that just seems counterintuitive.”

Jenny Slate

Slate talked about the bond she formed with Lively while working together It ends with usin which she played Allysa, Lily’s best friend and Ryle’s sister.

“I fell deeply in love with her,” Slate said Entertainment tonight from her costar. “Obviously I’ve admired Blake for so long. … [She’s a] very reliable person who is also willing to share. We had long conversations. I never expected to have the off-set experience that I had.

The actress continued, “I really wanted to work with Blake, but to actually make a friend and someone who is so capable in so many ways — like, like a true winner… I’m so grateful for this sweet person. ”

Hasan Minhaj

Minhaj played Ryle’s brother-in-law It ends with usand he remained tight-lipped about the rumors during a september 2024 interview with Esquire.

“I can’t speak to other people’s experiences, but everyone was very professional and cool with me,” he said. “It was beautiful and everyone was nice, and it’s just as disappointing for me because I’m like, ‘What happened? Wait, what’s going on?’”

Minhaj called the film’s success “surreal,” adding, “I don’t think anyone predicted it.” I remember Justin contacted me and asked me to be part of the film; he was so passionate.”