The feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is messy and confusing. But is the core of it really this simple?
We already know the drama on the set of It Ends With Us was real. We’ve just heard competing narratives about where it all comes from. One thing that seems clear is at some point the set got toxic enough that cast and crew split into a sort of civil war, with rival teams, some in Blake’s corner, some backing the film’s director.
Us Weekly spoke with insiders from both teams on Thursday, and there are areas of agreement among TeamBlake and TeamJustin. You just have to pay attention…
Related: Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni Both Spoke About Importance Of Intimacy Coordinators On Set
First, a source supporting Justin confirmed the schism on set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation, saying tension over “creative differences” between the co-stars “had been building up since day one”:
“There were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin. This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore.”
Their take? Justin felt “hurt and sidelined” as Blake made changes to the script and wardrobe, “often without consulting Justin or his team.” This is very much in line with what we’ve heard previously about Blake bringing in hubby Ryan Reynolds to punch up scenes, getting his editor to make another cut, etc. It makes sense the director, who’s supposed to be in charge of the whole thing, would feel diminished, like he’s just some journeyman doing whatever Blake says. The source says:
“[Justin] was made to feel that his vision wasn’t as important as Blake’s, and it stifled the creativity on set.”
If all true, it’s understandable he’d tell an interviewer later on that she should direct the sequel if he felt like she’d shadow-directed the first one.
The Blake source challenges that narrative, though, saying “any changes or input by Blake was to create the best film possible and honor the book.”
See what they have in common there? They agree Blake did make changes. This source just thinks she did the right thing. And that’s not all they agree on. The TeamBlake source argued:
“Blake was a producer and worked closely with Colleen and other female team members on set. Without [Justin’s] input does not mean [she went] behind his back.”
OK, again, they’re saying the same thing happened! They’re just characterizing it differently!
We have to say that “without Justin’s input” does mean “behind his back.” If he’s the director, and she makes changes that he doesn’t agree with because she thinks it’s best for the film, that’s the same thing! They just like her changes — and think the women on set all agreed. So why couldn’t they let Justin know? Collaborate with him? Unless they thought he was some kind of tyrant, how could he argue with his star, the book’s author, and a quorum of female cast and crew on a female-centered story?
Well, a third source may have explained that, telling Us Blake “does not have a good opinion” of Justin. That much seems pretty obvious at this point.
Frankly, from these sources we’re getting the sense Blake did take over, leading a sort of cinematic coup. Whether or not she was right that Justin was wrong with how he was doing things, we have no idea, but we’re kind of getting the same story from both sides — she did take creative control! And right or wrong, going behind the director’s back — or above his head, however you want to put it — is a huge violation on a film set! Producer or not.
Our question is… what’s with these claims Justin made Blake “uncomfortable” and was “borderline abusive” IRL?? Wouldn’t TeamBlake cite those as reasons not to collaborate with him? Did only a few know about that? Or is something else at play here? Are the fans calling it a smear campaign right? Is this really all deflection to obscure the fact Blake committed a cardinal sin on set?
What do YOU think, Perezcious readers??
[Image via CBS Mornings/Elle/YouTube.]
