Colleen Hoover Removes Blake Lively from Instagram Amid Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

Colleen Hoover, the bestselling author of It Ends With Us, made waves this week after quietly returning to social media, only to delete all traces of actress Blake Lively from her Instagram account. In a surprising move, Hoover, 45, erased an image in which the actress—who has recently found herself at the center of controversy—had tagged her. This all unfolded after Hoover’s subtle return to Instagram on Wednesday, raising questions about her involvement in the ongoing legal drama between Lively and Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director in the 2024 It Ends With Us film adaptation.

The Legal Battle Between Lively and Baldoni

The legal battle involving Blake Lively, 37, and Justin Baldoni, 41, has quickly escalated into a high-profile dispute. Baldoni has alleged that Lively used her star power to persuade Hoover to take sides in the matter. According to Baldoni, Hoover issued a public statement supporting Lively after the actress filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024.

Before the legal conflict escalated, Hoover had maintained a warm relationship with Baldoni. Court documents that were filed in the $400 million countersuit reveal that Hoover had previously expressed her support for Baldoni’s involvement in the film project, even suggesting that Baldoni would be the perfect choice for the male lead role. The documents also revealed that Hoover had emailed Baldoni, saying that no one was more suited for the project than him.

However, as tensions between Lively and Baldoni intensified over the last few weeks, Hoover deleted her Instagram account and wiped any trace of both Baldoni and Lively from her social media. This included removing any photos taken during the promotional campaign for the film, which had released to less-than-stellar reviews in August 2024.

A Shift in Focus

Hoover, a bestselling author with numerous hit novels under her belt, appears to be shifting her focus. Rather than focusing on the It Ends With Us controversy, Hoover seems to be placing her energy into her next major project: the upcoming movie adaptation of her 2018 thriller novel Verity. The film, which will star Anne Hathaway in the titular role, is expected to be another major project for Hoover.

Despite the ongoing drama surrounding Lively and Baldoni, Hoover’s return to social media has been met with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. As Hoover refocuses on her career, her relationship with both Lively and Baldoni has sparked widespread discussion about how much personal relationships should play into professional ventures.

The Legal Setback for Blake Lively

In the latest developments in the legal battle, Lively and her legal team faced a minor setback when they were denied an extension to file an amended complaint. This decision came during a court hearing in New York last week. Lively’s attorneys had previously stated that they planned to file the amended complaint naming new parties by February 14, 2025. However, Judge Lewis J. Liman denied their request for additional time.

In a three-page letter sent to the judge on Monday, Michael Gottlieb, Lively‘s attorney, asked for a two-week extension to complete the changes to the complaint. Although Baldoni’s legal team did not object to the request, Judge Liman rejected the extension and instead granted Lively’s legal team just one additional day to make the necessary revisions. The amended complaint is now due by Monday, February 17, 2025.

A source close to Blake Lively expressed satisfaction with the ruling, noting that the court had approved most of the corrective measures they sought. They also clarified that the adjustment to the scheduling request was typical in litigation and expected during such proceedings.

The Initial Lawsuit and Fallout

The legal battle began around Christmas 2024 when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment. This lawsuit quickly garnered attention, and a New York Times article based on the case revealed a series of public relations messages allegedly showing Baldoni’s team planning a smear campaign aimed at discrediting Lively.

In retaliation, Baldoni filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and later sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, accusing them of attempting to “take over” the film. Baldoni’s 240-page legal filing includes claims that Lively’s team selectively edited text messages to omit key context, and highlighted a shocking conversation where Lively allegedly compared herself to Game of Thrones‘ Khaleesi and referred to Reynolds and her friend Taylor Swift as her “dragons.”

In the suit, Lively claims that during filming, a microphone was turned off so Baldoni could allegedly sniff her neck and tell her, “You smell so good.” However, video footage casts doubt on this claim, revealing that the microphone was not off, and instead, the two were mostly discussing their important relationships.

In an attempt to clarify the situation, Baldoni’s legal team released a voicemail obtained by DailyMail.com, further shedding light on an infamous rooftop scene where Lively edited the footage. The video revealed a flustered Baldoni apologizing weakly for his behavior and commenting on Lively‘s “dragons” when he failed to praise her appearance.

A Timeline of Legal Battles and Evidence

Baldoni’s team has since launched a website, thelawsuitinfo.com, where they have posted multiple pages of evidence. The site includes links to an amended version of Baldoni’s complaint and a timeline outlining the events surrounding the production of the It Ends With Us film. The website also includes text exchanges between Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds, in which Reynolds allegedly praised Baldoni and flirted with Lively.

The website states, “It’s important to note that no one is profiting from this. This is simply a platform to provide access to publicly available legal documents.” It adds, “This is not a provocation. In fact, this serves as more evidence that Justin Baldoni and his team intend to maintain transparency throughout this process.”

The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni shows no signs of slowing down, with further developments expected in the coming weeks. As Lively’s legal team prepares to submit their revised complaint, all eyes are on the case and its impact on the entertainment industry.

Conclusion: The Complications of Professional Relationships

As the legal drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni unfolds, Colleen Hoover’s actions on social media reflect the complex nature of personal and professional relationships in the entertainment industry. While Hoover has distanced herself from the public conflict, her connection to the case, both through her novel’s adaptation and her personal friendships, raises significant questions about how much influence personal dynamics have on professional decisions. The case remains fluid, with plenty of twists and turns still to come. For now, Hoover’s focus seems to be shifting towards her next project, leaving fans to speculate about the future of both the film and her own public persona.