If someone made a documentary about the making of It Ends With Us, it would probably be more successful than the actual movie. The film really proved that old saying true that 'there is no such thing as bad publicity'. Sure, the Colleen Hoover book’s on-screen adaptation was a box-office hit, but it is hard to deny that after a point people seemed more interested in what was happening behind the scenes than in the actual movie- all thanks to the leads, Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively- the two now-controversial figures attached to the project.

Among them, Justin Baldoni recently came forth and shared some of the struggles he faced while working on the 2024 movie.   

As soon as It Ends With Us’ promotional tour began, fans noticed that the cast and crew were isolating Justin Baldoni. In fact, this observation was the beginning of all the drama that followed. But what fans did not know was that Baldoni was not just being isolated in the press tour- he was also feeling alone on set. Baldoni recently appeared on How to Fail With Elizabeth Day and admitted he had a “near breakdown” playing the “dangerous” character in It Ends With Us. “I had to leave and just cry and shake because there was so much pain,” he said. 

Looking back on his time as the director of the movie, Baldoni described it as a “lonely” experience. He explained, “You don’t really have many people to talk to,” since, as the one leading the project, he felt like he could not open up about his anxieties and nervousness to anyone. Despite such candid admission, Baldoni still did not get into the feud that made headlines a few months ago. However, Blake Lively did.

‘It Ends With Us’: “Fishy” Business Takes Over Fans’ Minds as Colleen Hoover Fails to Handle Bad PR Alongside Blake Lively

In September, Blake Lively’s first reaction to the controversy was shared, and it showed that she was not expecting things to go so wrong.

Earlier this year, a source close to Blake Lively told PEOPLE that the actress was “pretty surprised at the backlash”. She had originally planned a ‘Barbie-esque’ press tour, full of fashion, pink, sparkles, and all things fun. But instead, it all came across as totally tone-deaf, especially considering the serious subject matter of the movie. According to the insider, the entire ordeal “felt out of control to her.” But not anymore.

With a little help from her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and by bringing back her usual, relatable social media vibe, Lively is slowly but surely turning things around. From laughing at her makeup mistakes to sharing her baking blunders, she is letting everyone see her fun side again- something even PR expert Joseph Hagan has weighed in on. And it looks like the Blake Lively controversy is finally starting to fade away.

Blake Lively Is Reminded of Her “biggest cookie failure” Just in Time for the Holidays 

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