“It Ends with Us” is a recent blockbuster that marks Blake Lively’s return to the big screen. Unfortunately, instead of paying attention to her acting ability, audiences are more interested in the controversies surrounding Blake and her co-star Justin Baldoni. So what exactly are these “endless dramas”?
Conflict with co-star Justin Baldoni
While filming “It Ends with Us,” Blake Lively (the female lead) and Justin Baldoni (the male lead and director) had some conflicts. The press speculated that before a scene, the actor asked Blake about her weight, which made the mother of four feel uncomfortable. Baldoni also hinted that he might hurt his back after carrying her, which caused tension on set. The conflict culminated when the “Gossip Girls” star invited her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, to come to the set to direct some scenes instead of Baldoni.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in a scene from the movie “It Ends With Us”
The discord was evident when the two did not promote the film together or take pictures together at the premiere. They even sat in different theaters during the premiere. While Baldoni chose to remain silent and hired a veteran PR director to handle the crisis, Blake Lively had some confusing behaviors for the audience. First, “It Ends With Us” is a work about domestic violence, but the actress born in 1987 promised fans that the film would bring laughter, contrary to the somewhat heartbreaking plot. This made the public question the seriousness of Ryan Reynolds’ wife towards this sensitive topic, and the image she wanted to build in the eyes of the audience.
Making public opinion hurt with promotional messages
Blake Lively’s promotional journey for the movie “It Ends with Us” also attracted media attention thanks to some unusual things. In a TikTok video, she said: “Get your friends together, wear floral dresses and go to the cinema!” However, this action was considered “inappropriate” because the movie mentioned domestic violence. In addition, Blake Lively also “took advantage” to advertise for her hair care product line Blake Brown and the beverage company Betty Buzz. On the red carpet, she also mentioned her husband’s upcoming Marvel movie “Deadpool & Wolverine”. The blonde star also gave “a shower of compliments” to her husband, instead of mentioning the efforts of screenwriter Christy Hall, director Justin Baldoni or author Colleen Hoover, the “main characters” who contributed to the success of “It Ends With Us”.
From one of the most beloved actresses in showbiz, Blake Lively’s image suddenly “fell off the cliff” after the movie “It Ends With Us”
In an interview, when asked how to make the issue of domestic violence more widely publicized, Blake Lively also unintentionally or intentionally answered indifferently, instead of speaking up about support measures for victims as many people wanted. The obvious contrast between the “colorful” promotional style and the serious subject of the film has made many people feel that Lively either doesn’t know what she’s talking about, or is using it to promote her personal products.
Ever been rude to a reporter?
In the face of recent controversies, the online community has “dug up” some of Blake’s controversial interviews, making the public wonder – have the audience favored her too much in the past? One of them is an interview with journalist Kjersti Flaa ( Café Society) on YouTube with the title “Talking to Blake Lively makes me want to quit my job” (2016). In it, Flaa congratulates the actress on her pregnant belly, but Lively has a “shocking” response by “congratulating” the female reporter even though she is not pregnant, implying that Flaa is overweight.
At the same time, Blake Lively caused controversy when she praised Woody Allen, the man behind Café Society. At that time, the director was facing accusations of sexual abuse. But the actress still spoke up to defend him: “My experience with Woody is that he always empowers women.” This also made the public curious about Blake Lively’s true views on sensitive issues in the entertainment industry.
Prioritize personal brand over film project
In recent years, Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds have begun to focus more on their business side. It’s not hard to see that both of them seem to put more effort into building their personal brands than their acting careers.
In addition to her hair care line and soft drink brand, Blake Lively is also preparing to “enter” the fashion industry. When cinema seems to be just “one profession” among the “nine professions” of the actress, films (specifically “It Ends With Us”) easily become a tool to promote her personal image, family image and brand. During the press conference for “It Ends With Us”, she also caused controversy when she not only emphasized her husband’s role in editing the script and scenes, but also invited editor Shane Reid from “Deadpool & Wolverine” to assist in cutting the film. This not only promoted the Marvel blockbuster but also enhanced Reynolds’ reputation as a director and actor.
Audiences once again ask the question, is this Blake Lively’s movie or Ryan Reynolds’?
Although it seems like the blonde superstar has been working hard to promote her brand and family, it is unfortunate that this image has also been implicated in many controversies surrounding her. Currently, Blake Lively has not spoken out about the “endless drama” of recent times.