UPDATE, 1/21/26 at 3:39 p.m. ET:
Court documents obtained by Luxury Handbag Shopping exclusively reveal that she was initially concerned when Justin Baldoni signed on to direct the film adaptation of It Ends With Us.
“I think everyone’s reaction was concern,” the transcript of Hoover’s deposition reveals. “They expressed it and said that they think it should be a woman who directs it.”
Hoover agreed, noting that she said if “they couldn’t find” a female director, she trusted Baldoni.
“I felt like, of all men, with him having the platform he did based on women, that he would be one of the few men I would be OK with directing it,” she recalled, adding that the “general pushback” was Baldoni being a man.
Initially, Hoover said she didn’t know Baldoni would star in the film as well and admitted that it “didn’t hurt” having Blake Lively as his costar. Hoover emphasized that she wanted the “focus” of the movie to “remain on the heart of the book” — which was domestic violence awareness.
Hoover’s biggest issue during the beginning of filming was her lack of involvement which she found “confusing” as an executive producer on the project.
“I didn’t feel like I could give input because I was just unaware of what was happening,” she claimed, noting that during one dinner with Baldoni he shared the alleged issues that arose with Lively.
Baldoni allegedly claimed Lively had been “exhibiting narcissistic behavior” about the film. Hoover felt “disappointed” by the conversation.
“For a man who has a platform of building women up, that I left the dinner disappointed that it felt like I was made to not like her,” Hoover claimed. “I left the dinner feeling like the intention was to get me on their side or, you know, just explain their side before I heard it from her.”
Original story continues below:
Newly unsealed text messages could shine a light on what It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover really thought of Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s drama.
According to new documents obtained by Luxury Handbag Shopping on Tuesday, January 20, Hoover, 46, and Lively, 38, exchanged text messages in July 2024 about their experience working on the film.
“I literally don’t know a single thing I’ve done that he can smear me about. Ryan [Reynolds] says he should be writing me apology and thank you letters every day. And instead he chooses to make a monster outta me,” Lively wrote via text. “But what’s my crime. I’ve only ever stayed focused on the work and given him EVERY opportunity to make it better. And he just keeps behaving like a rabid pig.”
Hoover replied, “Exactly. I think as women and mothers we’re taught to give grace until there’s nothing left of us, but in times like these, sometimes it’s good to be reminded that grace is wonderful until it compromises your integrity.”
While Hoover acknowledged in her text that she “sometimes” starts to feel “bad” for Baldoni, 41, “I can guarantee you he hasn’t felt an ounce of guilt. He’s too busy playing victim while you work your ass off to make a better movie that he gets credit for.”
In a separate deposition transcript released on Tuesday, Hoover was asked if she had input in the script of the movie.
Hoover testified that she was “not involved in the script as it was being written. I was involved after it became a draft he was happy with and, not with writing but with feedback.”
She also claimed that Baldoni asked her not to speak during a script meeting. When questioned if she had thoughts that she would have liked to share, Hoover replied, “Yes.”
Another piece of evidence unsealed on Tuesday was an email Hoover sent to Sony on July 14, 2024. In her correspondence with the studio, the author expressed hesitation in attending the It Ends With Us premiere.
“I feel I have been asked to make huge decisions and I’m honestly not comfortable with it anymore,” she said. “In a way, I feel like a scapegoat, as though I’m being used as an excuse to deliver unfavorable news to Wayfarer. I have felt backed into a corner more than once with the choices I’ve been asked to make. Am I going to be comfortable if Justin is there? No, things are beyond uncomfortable at this point. But my comfort isn’t my priority.”
Hoover said she was “used to being neutral” and doesn’t like “upsetting people or choosing sides.”
In her email to Sony, however, Hoover couldn’t promise to attend the premiere if Baldoni’s team was also going to be present.
“I go back and forth every day between continuing to show up for this movie or going into hiding because it’s all causing me anxiety and bringing attention that I’m not prepared for/used to,” she wrote. “Of course in a perfect world we’d set it all aside and everyone could smile for the cameras, but feelings have been hurt and boundaries have been crossed. I can see where Blake is coming from if she chooses not to attend, because if I were in her shoes, I’m not so sure I would be able to stomach seeing someone else accept credit and accolades for what was also a huge massive effort on her part, and having to share what should be a celebratory moment with people you absolutely can’t celebrate with.”
On August 6, 2024, Lively, Hoover and Baldoni all attended the New York City premiere of It Ends With Us.
Us has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment on the newly unsealed evidence.
Lively’s legal battle against Baldoni began in December 2024 when she sued the It Ends With Us costar and director for sexual harassment. According to the suit, Baldoni’s alleged behavior caused Lively “severe emotional distress.”
Baldoni has denied the claims, with his lawyer slamming the “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” accusations in a previous statement to Us.
Baldoni filed his own lawsuit against Lively in January 2025. The case, however, was dismissed six months later.
With Lively’s trial slated to start on May 18, 2026, the Gossip Girl alum’s legal team remains committed to the case.
“As we head to trial, only Ms. Lively’s claims against the defendants remain,” Lively’s attorney Sigrid McCawley said in a statement to Us on Tuesday. “The newly unsealed evidence contains never-before seen testimony, messages and evidence from numerous eyewitnesses backing the claims in Ms. Lively’s lawsuit. The evidence includes Ms. Lively’s own testimony describing the harassment she faced, as well as new evidence from numerous women describing their own disturbing experiences. The newly unsealed evidence shows the concerns of Ms. Lively and others were documented in real-time as early as Spring 2023.”
