Real reason Colleen Hoover wiped Blake Lively from her Instagram as author is branded a ‘sell out’

Colleen Hoover is said to be fearing for her future projects after her debut film adaptation found itself at the centre of a bitter legal spat between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with the saga reportedly threatening the casting for her next film.

The popular author, 45, scrubbed Lively, 37, from her Instagram account earlier this month, including a statement in which she described the actress as ‘honest, kind, supportive and patient,’ after quietly returning to the platform amid the explosive fallout.

The ongoing saga reportedly left Anne Hathaway toying with the idea of pulling out of the upcoming adaptation of Hoover’s 2018 psychological thriller, Verity.

Now, insiders have told DailyMail.com that Hoover is terrified of the impact on current projects and fears it could be detrimental to future deals.

It Ends with Us was a huge success for the author, taking $50 million on its opening weekend back in August and to date has earned $350 million at the box office worldwide.

‘The reason that Colleen scrubbed her social media accounts is because she doesn’t want this saga to impact any future film deals that she has in place, or that she is working on,’ an insider told DailyMail.com.

Colleen Hoover is said to be fearing for her future projects after the adaptation of her novel It Ends with Us found itself at the centre of a legal spat between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

The popular author, 45, scrubbed Lively, 37, and nearly all trace of It Ends with Us from her Instagram account earlier this month 

‘Yes, Anne Hathaway was on the fence when the It Ends with Us stuff exploded. Colleen knows how devastating this could be for her deals. This is why you will not see her take any sides.

‘Colleen did support Blake during It Ends with Us and they did strike up a friendship. But she has also been friends with Justin for a very long time.’

Hoover and Baldoni had formed a friendship before he took the lead, and directing duties, on It Ends with Us.

‘It would have never become a movie if it wasn’t for Colleen’s friendship with Justin,’ a second source said. ‘If it were up to Justin, the film would have stayed completely aligned with the book.

‘Yes, Colleen didn’t necessarily agree with the changes but even then, she took a step back and let it play out. Ultimately, she will have nothing to do with this and for good reason. She writes the stories that everyone is interested in telling on the big screen.

‘At the end of the day, Colleen is still friends with Justin. She doesn’t talk to Blake. Some people feel she is a sell out for not taking sides.’

With regards to Hathaway, they added: ‘Colleen would not want any actors to shy away from playing a character in her adaptations because of this ongoing drama. This is another reason she is just not getting involved.’

Hathaway was announced as the lead in Verity in November, one month before Lively filed a California civil rights complaint and a subsequent federal lawsuit, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

‘The reason that Colleen scrubbed her social media accounts is because she doesn’t want this saga to impact any future film deals that she has in place,’ an insider told DailyMail.com

Her profile now contains a handful of photos from the promotion period of the film last year, but none with the movie’s main stars or from the premiere

It comes amid claims Anne Hathaway (pictured) toyed with pulling out of the upcoming adaptation of Hoover’s 2018 psychological thriller, Verity

Soon followed a 4,000-word New York Times expose based on many of her claims.

Last month, Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios hit back with a blistering counter-suit against Lively and Reynolds, accusing their team of attempting to torpedo his career and asking for $400million in damages.

The lawsuit states Lively and Reynolds used their ‘enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio’.

In his filing, Baldoni, who was dropped by his talent agency WME, also claimed ‘Sony supported Lively’s demands and even enforced her dictate’ that he and editors ‘not be permitted even to view “her cut.”’

All parties have denied the allegations against them. 

Lively is believed to have taken over control of the film around the time of Book Bonanza – Hoover’s annual convention hosting authors and fans from around the world – which took place in Texas in June 2024.

In a message sent to his publicist Jen Abel that month, according to the legal filing, Baldoni said: ‘She’s kicked me out officially from the film now. She’s finishing it all. I can’t be involved. Music sound VFX everything. I’ll make it through somehow.’

By July 2024, he alleges he was completely locked out of the film’s final cut.

It Ends with Us took $50 million on its opening weekend back in August and to date has earned $350 million at the box office worldwide (pictured Baldoni and Lively) 

Hoover supported Lively when the actress’s allegations against Baldoni first came to light in December, sharing a photo of them and calling her ‘honest, kind, supportive, and patient’

Baldoni’s team have since launched a website about the legal case that includes pages of evidence, including a collection of Hoover’s emails to Baldoni.

They reveal how excited she was for Baldoni to be at the helm, telling him ‘you are the right person to make this movie’.

One email, sent in April 2019, reads: ‘I feel good about you. I’ve seen your past work, your passion and your love for humanity and I honestly feel there’s no one better for the project… 

‘I realize your experience with film far outweighs mine, and based on the magnificent adaptation you did of Five Feet Apart, I’m confident you could do this book justice and that our visions will align.’

After Lively filed her legal complaint against Baldoni, Hoover voiced support for the actress.

‘You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,’ she wrote on her Instagram Stories that day. ‘Thank you for being exactly the human you are. Never change. Never wilt.’

She has not addressed anything since. 

Hoover’s Instagram page recently relaunched with all traces of both Baldoni and Lively removed including photos from the premiere.

Her feed is now focused on the upcoming adaptation of Verity in which Hathaway will play the eponymous female lead alongside Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett.

Her books Regretting You, and Reminders of Him have also been picked up for film adaptations.