From left: Colleen Hoover, Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.Photo:Getty(3)
Getty(3)
It Ends with UsauthorColleen Hooveris supportingBlake Livelyamid the actress’sexual harassment allegationsagainst the film adaption’s director and starJustin Baldoni.
In an Instagram Stories post on Saturday, Dec. 21 — the same day that Lively’s complaint against her costarBaldoni, 40, came to light — Hoover, 45, shared her support for the actress and linked to theThe New York Times' reporting on the situation.
“@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Hoover wrote alongside a photo of herself and Lively, 37, hugging at a screening of the film. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”
Colleen Hoover shares a message of support for Blake Lively.colleen hoover/Instagram
colleen hoover/Instagram
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively’s allegations “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt” ina statement to PEOPLEon Dec. 21.
Lively alleges that “she has suffered from grief, fear, trauma and extreme anxiety” because ofBaldoni’s alleged behavior.
According to the complaint, which is a precursor to filing a discrimination lawsuit in California, “the emotional impact on Ms. Lively has been extreme, not only affecting her, but her family, including her husband and four children.”
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in ‘It Ends with Us’.Nicole Rivelli
Nicole Rivelli
Lively has previously been candid about her friendship with Hoover. Earlier this month, the actress shared a post on Instagramcelebrating the author’s birthday, including photos of the pair enjoying a snack together as a song fromWickedplayed in the background.
“Everyone who knows this woman is changed for it,” wrote Lively, who played Lily Bloom in this year’s big-screen adaptation of Hoover’s novel. “She’s calm and steady. Her integrity is her foundation. Her humor levels you outta nowhere. Her quiet fortitude is mighty. And she always chooses the kindest path.”
“She loves her fans. She loves her friends. She loves her community,” Lively added in part. “She loves her family. But mostly she loves Diet Pepsi. And oh boy do we love her.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Hoover was also complimentary of Lively’s work on the movie as both a star and producer, telling PEOPLE in August that she gave a “captivating, stunning and emotional” performance in the film.
“There aren’t enough words to describe her phenomenal talent,” Hoover said at the time. “Blake Lively truly brought Lily Bloom to life in a way that exceeded all my expectations. When I wrote Lily’s character, I thought I had a fairly solid image in mind but Blake’s portrayal added so much depth and complexity to the character that I didn’t even anticipate.”
source: people.com
