Colleen Hoover has returned to Instagram after a three-week break, and fans have quickly noticed that she has deleted all photos of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni from her account. The author of It Ends With Us had previously taken a brief hiatus from the platform, reportedly due to the ongoing legal battle between the two stars of the upcoming movie adaptation of her bestselling book.
The drama surrounding Lively and Baldoni intensified in late January when Lively filed a lawsuit against the actor, accusing him of sexual harassment. The allegations include claims of a “hostile” work environment on set, as well as accusations that Baldoni added intimate scenes to the film without Lively’s consent. Additionally, Lively alleged that Baldoni orchestrated a “smear campaign” against her in an attempt to tarnish her public image.
In response to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni countersued, filing a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times and a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni’s suit claimed that Lively was attempting to gain control of the film project and extort him.
During this tumultuous period, Hoover deactivated her Instagram account, reportedly stepping away from the platform while the legal drama unfolded. However, upon her return, Hoover made some subtle changes that didn’t go unnoticed. She removed all photos featuring Lively and Baldoni, though she did leave up a few early casting announcements and a post thanking her fans.
Despite the legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, Hoover publicly supported Lively. In the days following the allegations, Hoover shared a statement on her Instagram Story praising Lively, calling her “honest, kind, supportive, and patient.” The author expressed her gratitude for Lively’s character and expressed her support for the actress, saying, “Never change. Never wilt.”
The legal battle surrounding the movie adaptation of It Ends With Us continues to garner attention, and Hoover’s decision to distance herself from the controversy by removing photos of Lively and Baldoni only adds to the ongoing speculation surrounding the situation. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains unclear how the film’s production will be affected.
Despite the drama, Hoover’s support for Lively remains clear, as she continues to stand by the actress amid the ongoing legal challenges. Fans are closely following both the legal case and Hoover’s involvement in the project, as many await updates on the film adaptation of her hit novel.
