'Just Go See the Movie': It Ends with Us Director Responds to Criticism on Blake Lively's Costumes

Actor and director Justin Baldoni addressed the flak that’s been surrounding the costumes since filming began in May 2023

Justin Baldoni isn’t giving any space to critics of the wardrobe choices in his hotly anticipated, upcoming film It Ends with Us.

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, the Jane the Virgin alum, who stars in and directed the movie adaption of the Colleen Hoover book, said he doesn’t “worry about that too much” — and by that he means all the criticism directed towards Blake Lively’s costumes crafted by Eric Daman, the pro who previously worked with Lively on Gossip Girl.

Lively, 36, plays protagonist Lily Bloom and when photos of her on set dropped in May 2023, when production began, fans were quick to roast her character’s decidedly eclectic (or what some called out as “frumpy”) looks, one of which included peekaboo blue boxers.

But Baldoni, 40, only has one response: “just go see the movie.” 

"We're not always thinking about why her clothes look that way in that area. And also once you see the movie, it all makes sense," Baldoni, who plays Lily’s love interest, neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, told ET. 

However, he knows that strong opinions often come from a place of passion — and fandom. "I understand when you love something so much, you know, social media is amazing in the way it gives fans a voice," he said. "And if it were not for the fans, we would not be making this movie. So let them talk.” 

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Baldoni isn’t the only one who’s addressed the controversy.

Last June, It Ends with Us author Colleen Hoover said she had a similar care-free attitude towards all the attention. 

“I don’t remember describing outfits at all. I don’t care what they have on,” she told Today cohost Jenna Bush Hager at the time. “In my head, it’s about the conversation they’re having and the story. It’s the same way in the movie."

She urged fans to have faith and wait until the film lands in theaters Aug. 9 before casting judgment. "You’ve seen a couple of outfits that are completely out of context. I’m not worried about it.” 

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Besides the costumes, fans have also expressed concern over the wide age discrepancies between the characters and the actors who play them. Lively is more than a decade older than the 23-year-old protagonist. Similarly, Baldoni, who is also directing the book-to-screen adaptation, is 10 years older than his 30-year-old book counterpart.

Hoover previously explained that she wrote the novel series around “college-age students” who didn’t sync up with reality.  “I didn't know that neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There's not a 20-something neurosurgeon.” Hoover adds that she views the adaptation as "an opportunity to remedy her error.”

Watch the first trailer for It Ends with Us, in theaters Aug. 9, here.

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