Amid a heavy promotional tour for her new movie "It Ends With Us," actress Blake Lively finds herself entangled in controversy, causing her to doubt her future in the film industry.
According to Mail Online, this backlash stems from an alleged feud with co-star Justin Baldoni and criticisms of her handling of film promotions and sensitive topics, which have overshadowed the actress's recent endeavors.
At 36, Lively has enjoyed a successful career, but recent events during the film's debut could potentially derail her trajectory. "It Ends With Us" is a film that deals with weighty themes such as domestic abuse, which requires a sensitive promotional approach. However, Lively’s recent promotional tactics and public remarks are now under scrutiny.
Rumors of tension between Blake Lively and her co-star, 40-year-old Justin Baldoni, have circulated, partly due to their noticeable absence in joint press appearances. The drama escalated with leaked insights from the set, where Lively and Baldoni reportedly clashed over the portrayal of abuse scenes. An insider noted, "During scenes depicting abuse, Justin failed to consider Blake's character's perspective, focusing solely on what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint."
This internal conflict spilled over to the film's premiere and auxiliary events, where both actors kept their distance, adding fuel to the speculation of an ongoing feud. The tension between the two was palpable and became a focal point of discussion among fans and critics alike.
Further complicating matters for Lively are the criticisms over her decision to use her alcohol brand, Betty Booze, in promoting the film—a decision deemed insensitive given the film's central theme of domestic abuse. The brand faced disapproval for sponsoring the film’s afterparty because many people found it inappropriate given the serious subject matter of the movie.
Blake Lively hosted an interview that came under fire for not addressing the topic of domestic violence, despite the film's plot centering on this sensitive issue. Critics have highlighted this oversight as a major misstep, questioning Lively's awareness and sensitivity toward the gravity of the film’s message.
Adding to her woes, a resurfaced interview from 2016 cast further doubt on Lively's discernment in handling public interactions. During an exchange, Lively made an awkward comment to journalist Kjersti Flaa, who later expressed how deeply it affected her: "[Her comment] left me almost paralyzed. To be honest it hurts because I wasn't pregnant and I could never get pregnant so to me that comment was like a bullet."
In light of these accumulating issues, an insider shared, "She believed this was going to be her moment to shine, but is now worried that it may be the end of her career." This sentiment captures the concern that now overshadows Lively’s promotional campaign, turning what was intended as a career highlight into a period of intense personal and professional reflection.
Despite her efforts to maintain a professional front, Lively has showcased a series of responses in interviews that people have perceived as inappropriate. When pressed in one interview about her dealings, she sarcastically remarked, "Ask for my address or my phone number," a comment that slipped into the public narrative amidst the ongoing backlash.
The layers of controversy have left the actress contemplating whether to take a step back from her career to rethink her approach to her professional life and public persona. As the dust settles on her latest film’s release, the road ahead remains uncertain for Blake Lively, who must now navigate through the fallout of a tumultuously handled movie promo, potentially at great cost to her personal reputation and professional standing.
