Blake Lively Accused Of Power Grab On "It Ends With Us" Set

A storm behind the scenes is brewing on the set of "It Ends With Us." It's not just about adapting Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. Their strain has turned into full-on public drama, with recent allegations from a crew member suggesting that lead actress Blake Lively crossed a line in her senior role as producer.

Talia Spencer, a storyboard artist who collaborated heavily with the production team, made the shocking revelation during an April 13 chat with 60 Minutes Australia. Spencer alleges Blake Lively tried to take power from director Justin Baldoni by taking advantage of his kindness and trying to lead the film's artistic direction. Talia said that Justin is one of the only directors she's ever worked with who is genuinely kind and respectful. "I feel like maybe Blake smelled his kindness, mistook it for weakness, and tried to take advantage and take power," she explained. 

Spencer's comments are crucial, as the project has been plagued with warring narratives and legal tensions among its main creatives. When asked pointedly whether she thought Blake Lively sought to take charge of the film, Spencer didn't hold back. "I think she tried to, yes." "I think there was a massive compromise in terms of Justin's original vision for the film," she answered.

The claims mirror what Baldoni himself alleged in recent court filings in which he claimed Lively had overstepped her position as a producer. Baldoni says Lively attempted to take a level of creative control over core decisions, which did not align with the direction he had long dreamt for the film. According to sources close to the production, early enthusiasm about their collaboration turned to struggles over tone, narrative structure, and casting choices.

Read More: Tyra Banks Reveals The Reason Behind Her Big Move To Australia

However, the friction on set is not just one of the creative differences, as it has become deeply personal and legally fraught. Lively has alleged in her legal complaint that Baldoni and his producing partner, Jamey Heath, engaged in sexual harassment and fostered a hostile work environment, and she also alleges they initiated a smear campaign against her after she complained. Baldoni has denied the claims in unequivocal terms and argued that they are a distraction from Lively's attempts to gain control of the project.

Although the public is accustomed to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood productions, this situation has brought to light the potent power dynamics that can occur backstage. However, Spencer's choice to speak out as a crew member complicates a combustible situation. The stakes are high for the fate of  "It Ends With Us" and for all those involved. The allegations could leave a lasting mark on Lively, whose status as a beloved actress and businesswoman has seldom been scrutinized. For Baldoni, the controversy undermines his desire to bring emotionally driven stories to the screen with integrity and artistic independence.

Even Hollywood insiders are said to be split. Some argue that Lively was championing a story she believed in, hoping that her leverage as a producer would influence the film's outcome. Others read it as an overreach, an effort to push the director's voice out and replace it with her own.

As the fight rages on both in court and the court of public opinion, what began as a passion project has turned into a case study of how a creative vision and egos can clash spectacularly. And as more insiders start talking, this isn't the last we'll hear of the drama behind "It Ends With Us."