Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have long been viewed as something of a perfect couple, but after rumors of a feud plagued the press tour of It Ends With Us, fans turned on Lively.
All of a sudden, Lively has been subjected to a wave of backlash that has been compared to the fall of Jennifer “JLo” Lopez, who was thoroughly criticized by TikTok commentators after an awkward clip of her went viral.
Lively has been experiencing a similar shift in public perception, with past interviews of the actress examined for character flaws, and commentators labeling her out of touch.
The backlash began with the newly released film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book, It Ends With Us, which stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also directed the film.
ForbesSocial Media Hints At Reasons Behind ‘It Ends With Us’ Cast RiftBy Molly McPherson
‘It Ends With Us’ Tour Sparks Rumors Of Drama
Reports of alleged on-set clashes between Lively and Baldoni over creative control of It Ends With Us have plagued the film’s press tour (echoing the melodrama of the 2022 Don’t Worry Darling press tour, beset with similar rumors of a feud between director and star).
Rumors of a rift between Lively and Baldoni were given greater weight after a clip of the two seemingly arguing on set was leaked online. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that “two different cuts” of the movie had emerged from the creative clash.
Read More: The ‘Ugly Carousel Horse’ Meme, Explained
During the press tour, fans noticed that Lively was taking interviews separately from Baldoni, and that Baldoni was taking care to discuss the sensitive subject matter of the film, which features domestic violence.
In contrast, Lively had a lighter touch, seemingly brushing off serious questions and appearing to take more carefree attitude.
Lively also took the opportunity to promote her own haircare line, Blake Brown, as well as her husband’s new film, Deadpool & Wolverine, a goofy superhero comedy.
Commentators began criticizing Lively for her casual approach, and many suggested that she was too insulated from the bitter realities of life to speak candidly on heavy subjects, due to her wealth and privilege, with some labeling her as a “nepo baby.”
Baldoni implied that he would not be returning as a director for the sequel, It Starts With Us, and even suggested that Lively was “ready to direct,” which some fans interpreted as a snarky comment.
Others noted that the cast of It Ends With Us do not follow Baldoni on Instagram, and speculated that there was more to the story.
Awkward Blake Lively Interview Is Posted On YouTube
In the wake of the backlash against Blake Lively, Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa posted a clip on YouTube of her interviewing Lively and co-star Parker Posey for the 2016 Woody Allen movie Cafe Society, which Flaa described as "the most uncomfortable interview situation I have ever experienced.”
Flaa titled the video, “The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job,” and the video quickly shot up in the YouTube trending tab, with more than a million views.
The awkward video begins with Flaa congratulating Lively, who is visibly pregnant with her second child, on her “little bump.”
Lively appears irritated by the comment and sarcastically congratulates Flaa on her own “bump,” despite Flaa clearly not being pregnant.
The tension only grows from there, as Flaa asks the two about the outfits worn in the film and Lively responds by turning away from the interviewer and addressing Parker, wondering out loud if male actors would be asked the same question.
MORE FROMFORBES ADVISOR
The awkward interview continues with Lively turned away from Flaa almost the entire time, rarely making eye contact with her, as though she is having a private conversation with Parker.
Commentators were surprised by Lively’s perceived hostility in the footage, and the backlash only grew from there.
The Blake Lively Backlash Sparks A Divide
On TikTok, creators have created memes mocking Lively’s press tour.
Lively appeared to respond to the criticism by sharing resources for abuse survivors in an Instagram Story, as well as posting a BBC interview where she explains that her character is more than just a “survivor” and a “victim.”
Many commentators took Lively’s side in the ongoing feud, bolstered by an insider claim reported by Page Six that Baldoni had made Blake feel “uncomfortable” during the shoot.
TMZ claimed that Lively believed Baldoni, who has a history of back problems, fat-shamed her on set by asking his trainer how much she weighed and how to avoid injuring his back when picking her up.
TMZ also reported that Lively felt that Baldoni lingered too long during one of their kissing scenes.
Some commentators dismissed the entire controversy as overblown, and expressed alarm that the internet had turned against Lively.
The drama is still unfolding, and there might be more information coming out in the next few days, but for the time being, Lively is experiencing her “JLo” moment.
