The promotional tour for the film It Ends With Us has been marked by controversy, overshadowing its box office success. Tensions between the film’s lead actress, Blake Lively, and director and co-star Justin Baldoni have become a focal point. Reports suggest a “power struggle” between Lively and Baldoni, with differing approaches to marketing the movie, which addresses domestic violence. Baldoni has focused on highlighting survivors’ stories in his interviews, while Lively has been criticized for seemingly trivializing the film’s serious subject matter in favor of promoting her own haircare line.
Internet Backlashes Lively
Adding to the controversy, a 2016 interview clip has resurfaced, intensifying criticism of Lively. In the video, Lively and actress Parker Posey were promoting the Woody Allen film Café Society when Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa congratulated Lively on her pregnancy. Lively responded by congratulating Flaa instead, despite Flaa not being pregnant. The interaction quickly grew uncomfortable, with Lively dismissing questions about the film’s costumes—a topic of interest to Flaa—while focusing only on her co-star Parker Posey’s responses. This led to Flaa describing the interview as the “most uncomfortable” experience of her career, prompting negative reactions from viewers.
Commenters on social media and YouTube have expressed their disapproval of Lively’s behavior during the interview. Many found her responses rude and dismissive. Critics have pointed out the irony in Lively’s current promotional efforts for It Ends With Us, where she is again focusing on fashion, despite the film’s serious themes. The reaction underscores a broader discontent with Lively’s approach to publicity and her handling of sensitive topics.
Blake Lively Answers Back
In response to the backlash, Lively posted a message on her Instagram stories on August 13, 2024. The post highlighted the prevalence of intimate partner violence and emphasized the need for relationships free from domestic violence. This message appears to be an attempt by Lively to address criticisms. Reaffirms her commitment to the film’s important subject matter, aiming to redirect the focus back to the film’s core themes.