Author Colleen Hoover has expressed embarrassment over the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni surrounding the 2024 film adaptation of her novel 'It Ends with Us.' In an interview with Elle, Hoover said she feels the lawsuit has overshadowed the story and caused pain to her mother, whose life inspired the book. She is attempting to stay removed from the negativity while preparing to give a deposition in the case.
Background on the Controversy
The film 'It Ends with Us,' based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 bestselling novel about domestic violence, was released in 2024 by Sony Pictures and grossed $350 million worldwide. Starring Blake Lively as the lead and directed by Justin Baldoni, the project faced significant backlash due to on-set disputes. Lively filed a lawsuit in 2025 accusing Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her after she raised concerns about working conditions. Baldoni has denied the allegations and countersued for $400 million. A trial is set for March 2026.
Hoover, who served as an executive producer and visited the set, stated she was 'completely unaware that anything was happening' during production. The novel draws from her mother's experiences with abuse, adding a personal layer to the author's distress.
Hoover's Statements
In her Elle interview, Hoover admitted mixed feelings about the book: '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.’' She added, 'I can’t even recommend it anymore. I feel like [the lawsuit] has overshadowed it.'
Hoover expressed concern for her family, noting, 'The book was inspired by her story, and now it gives us PTSD to think about it. I feel awful because I almost feel like she’s gone through more with the aftermath of this film, more pain than she went through with my dad, just seeing the ugliness of it.' She described the situation as 'unfortunate' and 'disappointing,' calling it 'a circus' that has impacted careers.
Despite the drama, Hoover is focusing on distance: 'I’m just trying to stay removed from the negativity. I have my own story I could tell, but I don’t want to bring attention to it.' She hopes time will ease the pain and remains proud of the book privately, though less publicly.
Ongoing Legal Developments
Most recently, Baldoni sought to dismiss the lawsuits against him and Wayfarer Studios without revealing reasons yet. Hoover is scheduled to provide a deposition soon but prefers to avoid fueling the conflict, emphasizing that 'no one has the actual truth. Not even me.'