Colleen Hoover is looking at It Ends With Us in a new way following the legal drama involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, which was adapted into a 2024 feature film starring Lively and Baldoni, appeared on Jenna Bush Hager’s Open Book podcast to promote her new film, Reminders of Him, when she was asked about the ongoing legal battle between the two stars.
A few months after the film’s release, Lively sued her director-co-star Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and creating a hostile work environment in a complaint. Baldoni has denied her allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, which published the actress’ complaint. A legal battle between the pair has been playing out in court.
On Thursday’s episode of Open Book, Jenna Bush Hager asked Hoover if it was hard to have a film about issues close to her wrapped up in the drama.
“It is, but it’s getting easier to separate it because I do look at the success of it,” Hoover said. “Opening weekend, we just were all so shocked at how much readers showed up for it and how well it did and how much it resonated. I am so proud of that movie. I think the actors, the director, everyone did such a good job making it that I have to look at everything else separate from the film, from the book.”
She added that it’s been “unfortunate,” but she’s “very much grateful that we got to see it come to life.”
In November, Hoover also reflected on the movie, telling Elle magazine, “I feel like [the lawsuit] has overshadowed it. 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.’”
Lively and Baldoni’s trial is set for May 18.
