Blake Lively is under heavy scrutiny following the release of a “nightmare” interview from 2016, shared by a Norwegian journalist. This backlash coincides with the criticism Lively has been facing for her promotion of the film It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel about domestic violence and abuse.
Lively, 36, has been criticized for what fans describe as an insensitive approach to promoting the film, which includes launching a haircare line and creating themed cocktails like “Ryle You Wait,” named after an abusive character in the story.
Many have questioned the appropriateness of these light-hearted promotional efforts for a film dealing with such a serious topic.
Amid this controversy, journalist Kjersti Flaa shared a clip from a 2016 interview she conducted with Lively during the promotional tour for Café Society, a Woody Allen film. Flaa described the interview as the most uncomfortable experience of her career.
The interaction began awkwardly when Flaa congratulated Lively on her pregnancy, to which the actress responded sarcastically: “Congrats on your little bump.” Co-star Parker Posey tried to lighten the mood by jokingly showing off her own “bump,” but the tension remained. Lively then made cutting remarks about how women are often asked about their costumes in films, questioning whether men would face the same inquiries.
A reporter says to a pregnant Blake Lively, “Congrats on your little bump!” And she responds, to the clearly not pregnant reporter, “Congrats on YOUR little bump!” Hell is not hot enough pic.twitter.com/l1pBBFjHGX
— Molly Mulshine 🇺🇸 (@mollymulshine) August 14, 2024
Flaa, who tried to steer the conversation back to the movie, later recounted the interview as so uncomfortable that it made her consider quitting her job. She posted the clip on YouTube, where it has gained over 723,000 views, with many agreeing that Lively’s behavior came off as rude and passive-aggressive.
The backlash against Lively extends to her recent promotional efforts for It Ends With Us, with critics accusing her of focusing more on her brand and commercial ventures than on the film’s serious themes.
Although Lively addressed the criticism by posting about domestic abuse on Instagram, it may have already tarnished her public image.
Further fueling the controversy are rumors of a conflict between Lively and her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Reports suggest that Baldoni has brought in Johnny Depp’s crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, leading to speculation that on-set tensions have impacted the film’s press tour.
As this situation continues to develop, Lively’s approach to both her past and current interviews has sparked broader discussions about the responsibility celebrities have when promoting films that deal with sensitive issues.
