AceShowbiz - As tensions rise around the film adaptation of "It Ends with Us," author Colleen Hoover has publicly voiced her support for Blake Lively, who plays the lead role of Lily Bloom. The drama began when Lively, 37, filed a complaint alleging misconduct by the film's director, Justin Baldoni, and lead producer, Jamey Heath.

In her Instagram Stories post on Saturday, December 21, the same day Lively's allegations came to light, Hoover praised Lively for her character. "@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Hoover wrote, adding a link to an article reporting on her lawsuit against Baldoni.

Lively's complaint describes an array of behavioral issues on set that culminated in a meeting to address her concerns. Despite an initial agreement to her requests, the actress alleges that Baldoni retaliated with a smear campaign shortly afterward.

Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, dismissed the accusations as "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt." However, Lively's documentation includes private communications that seemingly show Baldoni's crisis PR team plotting to discredit her by portraying her actions as "weaponization of feminism."

In the text exchange obtained by PEOPLE, Baldoni used Hailey Bieber as a model for PR takedown of Lively to discredit her character. "This is what we would need," he allegedly wrote along with a screenshot of headlines about "Hailey Bieber's history of bullying many women."

"I literally just spoke to Melissa about this on the break about what we discussed last night for social and digital. Focus on Reddit, TikTok, [Instagram]," he added.

According to the complaint, Lively has suffered "grief, fear, trauma and extreme anxiety" as a result of Baldoni's alleged conduct. This emotional toll has not just impacted her but also extended to her family, including her husband Ryan Reynolds and four children.

Hoover and Lively share a deep friendship, evidently marked by mutual respect and admiration. The actress celebrated Hoover's birthday earlier this month with an Instagram post, noting that "everyone who knows this woman is changed for it."

Lively's appreciation extends beyond personal friendship, as Hoover believes Lively delivered a "captivating, stunning and emotional" performance as Lily Bloom.

In a statement to PEOPLE in August, Hoover effusively praised Lively's portrayal, "Blake Lively truly brought Lily Bloom to life in a way that exceeded all my expectations. When I wrote Lily's character, I thought I had a fairly solid image in mind but Blake's portrayal added so much depth and complexity to the character that I didn't even anticipate."

As the situation develops, young fans and followers of Hoover's work eagerly await updates on the escalating situation. This unfolding drama underscores the challenges and complexities of adapting beloved narratives for the big screen, highlighting the critical need for integrity and mutual respect in collaborative creative endeavors.