Blake Lively Backlash: An Inevitable Outcome

Blake Lively looks on during the premiere of the movie “It Ends With Us” in Copenhagen.

Drama surrounding “It Ends With Us” stole the spotlight this week, with Blake Lively facing significant criticism for her behavior during the film’s promotion as well as for some past controversial actions.

The film, adapted from the 2016 bestselling novel of the same name, features Lively as Lily Bloom, a flower shop owner who falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, played by director and co-lead Justin Baldoni. Their love story takes a dark turn when Kincaid starts abusing Lily.

One would expect the press tour to focus on the complexities of domestic violence depicted in the movie. Instead, Lively spent more time discussing her new hair care line and engaging in lighthearted banter with interviewers, rather than addressing the serious themes of her character’s experience.

In one particularly viral clip, a reporter asked Lively how someone should seek advice from her regarding domestic violence issues. Her response was considered distasteful. Instead of directing people to relevant organizations or offering constructive advice, she cheekily responded by asking if the reporter was inquiring about her phone number or location share, followed by remarks about Virgo traits.

This response did not sit well with many fans, who took to social media to criticize her.

This incident reignited scrutiny of Lively’s past actions. In 2012, she and her husband Ryan Reynolds were criticized for getting married on a South Carolina plantation known as Boone Hall Plantation, which has nine preserved slave cabins referred to as “Slave Street.”

In 2020, the couple apologized after being called out for glamorizing a venue with such a painful history. Lively said, “What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon a devastating tragedy.”

Lively’s interviews have also raised eyebrows. Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa shared a 2016 interview with Lively during the press run for “Cafe Society,” which was uncomfortable from the start. When Flaa congratulated Lively on her “little bump,” Lively awkwardly repeated the statement back to her, even though Flaa wasn’t pregnant.

Further into the interview, when Flaa asked about the costumes in “Cafe Society,” a period piece set in 1930s Hollywood, Lively diverted the conversation to a personal chat with co-star Parker Posey. Throughout the interview, both actresses avoided eye contact with Flaa, who later revealed that the interaction made her consider quitting journalism.

These moments have not helped Lively’s public image. A little kindness can go a long way, especially when promoting a film with such serious subject matter. As someone who has experienced domestic violence in her past, it’s disheartening to see Lively miss opportunities to advocate for change and offer support to others in similar situations.

Source: HuffPost