It Ends With Us: Did Author Colleen Hoover’s Reputation Suffer Amid Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Legal Battle? Expert Reveals

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Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual harassment 

In 2016, Colleen Hoover penned the much-loved bestseller “It Ends With Us.” This novel was later transformed into a film titled “It Ends With Us” in 2024, featuring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as the main actors. Unfortunately, this beloved work has been marred by the ongoing legal disputes between the leading actors.

In December 2024, Lively initiated a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign. In response, the actor and filmmaker retaliated by filing a countersuit for $400 million, claiming defamation and extortion. The legal disputes have been escalating, with fresh revelations linked to the case emerging daily.

From the get-go, I, being a diehard fan, couldn’t help but show my support for Lively on social media once she filed her lawsuit. In my eyes, she’s an honest, kind, supportive, and patient soul, qualities that made me immediately stand by her side during the early phases of this legal struggle.

Hoover expressed gratitude for Baldoni being himself in an Instagram post along with a photo of them hugging at the movie premiere. However, when Baldoni filed a lawsuit against her and many people supported him online, Hoover felt compelled to defend her reputation.

Since then, she’s removed every trace or image of Lively from her Instagram account. Unfortunately, this action seems to have made the situation more intricate and deepened her connection to it. She deactivated her social media profiles in January, only to activate them again the following month.

Yet, her online followers bombarded her comment area with harsh words and insults, accusing her of attempting to hide past declarations. Remarkably, some threatened to stop supporting her future endeavors.

Expert on reputation management, Ryan McCormick, stated to Fox News that Hoover might face consequences for her career and image due to aligning with Lively. In simpler terms, he suggested that Hoover’s professional life and standing could be impacted by the conflict between Lively and Baldoni.

It was suggested that due to a decline in Hoover’s fanbase, potential future ventures such as adapting her 2018 book Verity, featuring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, might struggle or even fail.

If you’re facing difficulties due to assault or abuse, or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to seek help from a local mental health professional, non-governmental organization, or confide in someone you trust. Various hotlines are accessible if you need assistance with similar issues.

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2025-02-24 22:22