In a legal dispute that has caught the attention of Hollywood, *It Ends With Us* actor 

and director Justin Baldoni has amended his complaint against co-star Blake Lively, accusing the actress of inflating the wardrobe budget by $430,000. 

The actor alleges that Lively’s demands for her character’s wardrobe caused the original budget, set at $185,000 for the entire cast, to balloon significantly.

Baldoni’s legal complaint, filed on January 31, 2024, comes with additional details and evidence, including a screenshot of an alleged email from an unnamed line producer. 

The email, which dates back to April 2023, states that the wardrobe department had already spent $615,000, far surpassing the original allocation.

According to the email, the department was facing issues with the budget, as most of the wardrobe expenses were directed toward shopping for Baldoni and Lively’s costumes.

“To date, [wardrobe] already spent $615k, and they need their cashet cards all replenished because they’ve only shopped for Justin and Blake,” the email reads. It goes on to highlight that the wardrobe team had to reshop everything for Lively following creative changes, further escalating the costs.

Baldoni’s complaint alleges that Lively played a key role in pushing the wardrobe budget well past the original limits. According to the actor, Lively’s heavy involvement in the wardrobe process went beyond typical actor input. Baldoni claims that the actress disregarded the creative direction of the costume designers, submitting hundreds of images of her preferred styles, often into late hours of the evening. He suggests that this not only caused delays but also diverted attention and resources from preparing costumes for the rest of the cast.

The actor’s complaint also includes allegations that Lively insisted on her character, Lily Bloom, having an upscale wardrobe, even though the character was portrayed as a small business owner. Baldoni claims that Lively pushed for high-end items such as $5,000 shoes for the character, which didn’t align with the story’s narrative or the character’s financial status. 

Despite these tensions, Baldoni’s lawsuit highlights that Lively’s demands for control of her character’s wardrobe came at a significant cost to the production. The wardrobe budget, already stretched by the extensive re-shopping, caused a strain on resources, leaving little room for adjustments to other cast members’ clothing.

The complaint also refers to a public incident in May 2023 when Lively was photographed in her character’s wardrobe on set, which sparked criticism from the public. The images, which were widely regarded as unflattering, reportedly led to backlash from Sony Pictures, the film’s studio. The lawsuit suggests that this public criticism added to the pressure, prompting Baldoni to approach Lively about making adjustments to her wardrobe moving forward.

According to Baldoni, he tried to address the issue directly with Lively, seeking more control over the wardrobe decisions. However, Lively allegedly dismissed his concerns, suggesting that he was being “gaslit” by Sony and the other producers, who were apparently trying to manipulate him into allowing her continued influence over her character’s wardrobe choices.

Lively, known for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on *Gossip Girl*, played the lead role of Lily Bloom in *It Ends With Us*, a film adaptation of the popular novel by Colleen Hoover. In the story, Lily is a flower shop owner, and her wardrobe, as envisioned by the production, was intended to reflect her modest background and character development throughout the narrative. However, Lively’s vision for the character’s wardrobe reportedly clashed with these intentions, leading to the conflict that forms the basis of Baldoni’s lawsuit.

The case, which has drawn significant media attention, has raised questions about the influence of actors in the creative process and the extent to which their personal preferences should affect a film’s production budget. While Baldoni has expressed frustration over the situation, he continues to move forward with the legal proceedings, with his amended complaint seeking resolution over the alleged financial discrepancies.

As the lawsuit progresses, the public’s eye remains focused on both Baldoni and Lively, who are both significant figures in the entertainment industry. Whether or not the wardrobe dispute has long-term effects on their professional relationship remains to be seen, but for now, it highlights the complexities of film production and the delicate balance between creative vision and financial constraints.

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