Blake Lively's co-star Michele Morrone recalls seeing her in 'pain' after filming 'It Ends With Us'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Michele Morrone has broken his silence, standing firmly by Blake Lively as she faces the fallout from her explosive lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
The Italian actor, known for his charisma and talent, shared a heartfelt video on his Instagram Story on December 23, detailing his observations of Lively’s struggles and calling for understanding and compassion.
Michele Morrone claims Blake Lively 'was in pain' amid Justin Baldoni lawsuit
Michele Morrone began his emotional message, writing, “So it’s usually not my thing to make these types of videos, but I think it’s time to stand up for a person I really love, and this person is Blake Lively.”
Morrone, who is set to appear alongside Lively in the highly anticipated sequel to 'A Simple Favor', reflected on his experience working with her.
“I personally met Blake during 'A Simple Favor 2'. We shot this incredible film together, and I felt something was wrong, and I felt the pain. Then we had the opportunity to talk, me and her. Blake was in pain,” he revealed.
The actor expressed frustration over the harsh criticisms directed at Lively in the wake of her lawsuit against Baldoni, urging the public to understand the situation before passing judgment, Daily Mail reported.
“I’m really tired of seeing those kinds of cruel and bad comments about her without knowing the situation,” Morrone stated.
To provide context, he linked to a New York Times article detailing private messages that allegedly outlined a smear campaign targeting Lively after she accused Baldoni of misconduct on the set of 'It Ends With Us'.
“That’s why I want to link right here the article [from] The New York Times so that you can understand before commenting, what happened,” he said, adding, “Blake, I love you so much. Keep it up, and we’re going to see each other very, very soon. Love you.”
A growing wave of support towards Blake Lively
Michele Morrone is just one of many high-profile names rallying behind Blake Lively following her allegations against Justin Baldoni.
The 37-year-old actress accused the 40-year-old director of fostering a toxic workplace environment, which allegedly included showing her explicit videos and photos of other women, making inappropriate inquiries about her weight, and discussing his struggles with pornography.
In an 80-page lawsuit, Lively claimed Baldoni made sexual remarks about cast and crew members, commented on her late father, and engaged in “improvised physical intimacy” during filming, including an alleged incident where he “discreetly bit and sucked on her lower lip” without prior consent.
The lawsuit has led to widespread public scrutiny, with stars like Amy Schumer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colleen Hoover, and Lively’s 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' co-stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel publicly voicing their support.
Even Vital Voices, an organization that honored Baldoni with a Voices of Solidarity award for his advocacy for women’s rights, has rescinded the distinction in light of the allegations.
A troubled production for 'It Ends With Us'
'It Ends With Us', adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, tells the story of Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively), a woman navigating a physically abusive relationship with her husband, Ryle Kincaid (played by Justin Baldoni).
However, the film’s production has been marred by controversy, with fans picking up on tensions between the two leads long before the lawsuit surfaced.
Lively’s decision to take legal action reflects her commitment to exposing workplace misconduct.
In a statement, she said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
While Lively’s allegations have sparked widespread outrage and support, Baldoni’s team has denied the claims, labeling the lawsuit as an attempt to salvage Lively’s reputation following the film’s rocky reception.
Despite the controversy, Michele Morrone’s vocal support serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing with those who speak out against misconduct.
