Colleen Hoover was absent from Monday night's Los Angeles premiere of Regretting You, the film adaptation of her 2019 romance novel. The author cited an 'unavoidable surgery' as the reason for missing the event and other upcoming promotional activities.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Hoover confirmed she would also miss future events for the film and would not moderate Lukas Gage's book tour stop in Los Angeles. Anna Todd will replace her as moderator for Gage's signing. Hoover expressed disappointment but gratitude to the cast and crew, urging fans to share their posts about the film.
The film stars Allison Williams as Morgan Grant and McKenna Grace as her daughter Clara, who grapple with family secrets after a tragic car accident. The cast also includes Willa Fitzgerald, Scott Eastwood, Mason Thames, and Dave Franco. Regretting You is set for US release on October 24.
Hoover's absence comes amid ongoing legal disputes between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who starred in the 2024 adaptation of her novel It Ends With Us. Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and a social manipulation campaign; Baldoni denied the claims and countersued. That countersuit was dismissed, and the trial is expected in March 2026.
In January, Hoover deactivated her Instagram account but returned in March, addressing rumours about her retirement and financial situation. She clarified she was not retiring or firing staff, and noted that merchandise on her website was reduced to $10 per item, jokingly saying she would be 'broke as s***' as a result.
