Inside Blake's HOLLYWOOD FEUD

BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI'S NEW FILM, IT ENDS WITH US, HAS BEEN ECLIPSED BY TALES OF TENSION, BODY SHAMING AND CONTROL ISSUES BETWEEN THE STARS ON AND OFF THE SET.

IT should have been a huge win. In its opening weekend, It Ends With Us — the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel that debuted in theaters on Aug. 9 — earned a jaw-dropping $50 million domestically and $80 million worldwide against a $25 million budget, exceeding all expectations. News of such an epic success for the project, its movie studio, Sony, and the film’s stars and producers, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also directed, should have dominated headlines. But instead of basking in great press, the movie’s main players and their camps have been doing damage control.

Whispers of a feud between the costars have been growing for weeks. First the two raised eyebrows by failing to promote the movie, about an abusive relationship, together, attending different screenings and events. Then rumors of on- and off-set drama exploded when sleuthing fans noted that Blake and Colleen had unfollowed Justin on Instagram — and that none of the main cast were following him. The distracting scandal went mainstream when the pair didn’t pose together for a single shot at the Aug. 6 premiere, where costars like comedian Jenny Slate as well as the book’s author curiously danced around questions about Justin in red carpet interviews. Since then, “it’s become a real war of words,” an insider tells Star. “Fingers are being pointed from both camps with all kinds of nasty accusations being thrown around.”

HE SAID/SHE SAID