Justin Baldoni and his wife enjoy family day at Universal Studios amid Blake Lively’s ‘It Ends With Us’ controversy
Justin Baldoni escaped the ongoing drama with his “It Ends With Us” co-star Blake Lively by spending the day with his family last week.
Baldoni, his wife Emily and their two children Maia (9) and Maxwell (6) enjoyed a fun day at Universal Studios in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The couple and their kids posed for sweet family photos in front of the theme park’s entrance – although Mya and Maxwell had their backs to the camera to hide their faces.
The “Jane the Virgin” actor and Emily, both 40, also shared a romantic kiss in front of the Universal Studios sign for another photo moment.
He and the Swedish actress married in July 2013 after nearly two years of dating.
Baldoni appears to be having a good time, although rumors have been swirling that he had a fight with Lively, 37, on the set of their new movie based on Colleen Hoover’s popular book.
Baldoni, who directed and starred in the film alongside Lively, sparked speculation that there was some drama with the former “Gossip Girl” castmate after they were not photographed together during the press tour ahead of the film’s Aug. 9 release.
Sources said Baldoni and the film’s producer Lively had a falling out during the post-production process, and the actress paid for a second cut of the film.
The actors have reportedly agreed on the final version of the feature film, though it is unclear whose version ended up in theaters.
Meanwhile, multiple sources told Page Six exclusively that Baldoni made Lively feel uncomfortable on set.
One industry source claimed Baldoni created an “extremely difficult” environment for the entire cast behind the scenes, while another insider said there were moments on set when Lively felt “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body.
Lively began filming the movie shortly after welcoming her fourth child, son Olin, with husband Ryan Reynolds.
However, sources who have worked with Baldoni defended him, saying he never intentionally makes any of his actors feel unsupported.
Baldoni bought the film rights to the book in 2019. He also owns the rights to Hoover’s 2022 sequel, “It Starts With Us.” Sources tell us things continued to get ugly on set after Baldoni said he might not return for a potential follow-up film.
Lively, meanwhile, was criticized for appearing tone-deaf while promoting the film, which has a theme of domestic violence, while discussing floral fashion, her Blake Brown haircare line and her husband’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie during the press circuit.
However, she defended herself amid the criticism, saying that the character she plays is defined by more than just their toxic relationship.
“She’s not just a survivor, and she’s not just a victim, and although these are huge things, these are not her identity,” Lively said of her character, Lily Bloom, in an interview she shared on her Instagram Story earlier this month.
He added, “She defines herself, and I think that’s very empowering. … No one else can define you. No one experience can define you. You define yourself.”
Everything appears to be back to normal for Lively, who was spotted enjoying a lavish pool party with her husband and friends at Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home this weekend.
