Following the announcement by the Princess of Wales on Friday about her preventative chemotherapy after the cancer diagnosis, US actor Blake Lively issued an apology to Catherine for making light of a digitally altered family photo she had shared amid widespread speculation about her whereabouts.
“I’m sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this. I made a silly post around the ‘Photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today,” Lively expressed on Instagram. The Gossip Girl and A Simple Favor star continued, “I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.”
Lively, who is married to actor and Wrexham AFC co-owner Ryan Reynolds, also removed post endorsing Betty Buzz beverage line that were photoshopped, stating: “Now you know why I’ve been MIA.'”
Her deleted post coincided with Catherine’s celebration of Mother’s Day in the UK, where she shared a photo with her children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – which sparked rumors after major news outlets claimed it had been altered. Following the speculation about her absence, Catherine apologized for any “confusion” caused by the image, clarifying that she had digitally edited it herself.
Lively’s apology emerged amidst calls for other American entertainers to apologize for making jests at Catherine’s expense before her revelation on Friday about her ongoing battle with cancer, which was discovered after abdominal surgery in January.
One such figure was reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who wrote “On my way to go find Kate” in an Instagram post five days prior to Catherine’s disclosure. A comment left on Friday demanded an apology.
Additionally, Late Show host Stephen Colbert reportedly received a legal notice after joking about another unfounded rumor suggesting Catherine’s absence was due to her husband’s infidelity. Instagram users flooded Colbert’s page with criticism, accusing him of mocking a woman battling cancer.
Catherine’s announcement, made via a video message recorded in Windsor Castle’s gardens, explained her recent withdrawal from public life as she and William needed time to discuss her health with their children. She emphasized the support she received from William in the weeks leading up to the video’s release.
