Blake Lively is in an unremarkable position in the days after Justin Baldoni’s highly anticipated publication of It Ends With Us, which she continues to neglect.
TRIGGER WARNING: There are several references to domestic violence in this essay.
“Grab your friends, wear your florals, head out to see it!” Blake Lively has been promoting her most recent book, It Ends With Us, in the media with numerous engagements; she hasn’t said anything more or less.
Blake has been in the news a lot these past several weeks because, well, flowers. In the Justin Baldoni-directed movie, she portrays a florist named Lily Bloom. She has made a strong commitment to dressing in flowers whenever she goes out, a fashion choice that has sparked a lot of discussion about the movie. However, It Ends With Us’s release has left viewers and admirers of the actor perplexed in what now appears to be an intentional attempt to mislead them about the true meaning of the film.
It Ends with Us is not a film about flowers and girl power
It has to deal with domestic abuse. What’s even more shocking is that, in this day and age, not even the slightest effort was made to warn the audience about what they were getting themselves into. Those who have read Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name already knew what to expect from the film, which is an official adaptation of the book. To defend the film’s cast and director Justin—who, coincidentally, also stars in this picture with Blake—the trailer was everything but elegant and sophisticated, and it made clear that DV was the film’s central issue.
The main issue here is that DV is the main idea and not merely a subplot. The greater issue? Blake’s unwavering reluctance to accept it.
The internet is deeply unhappy with Blake
Around the same time, Blake made a smooth transition from television to the big screen with her long-running role as Serena van der Woodsen on the cult series Gossip Girl (2007–2012). Because of her warm personality, open nature, and seemingly flawless relationship with husband and fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, Blake has become an incredible fan favorite throughout the years. But now there is a big threat to this almost perfect public image.
A beautiful evening in London for the UK Gala Screening 🌸✨ #ItEndsWithUsMovie is only in cinemas TOMORROW! Book tickets now: https://t.co/esz6FtAiEq pic.twitter.com/LWda5E3yR7
— Sony Pictures UK 🎬 (@SonyPicturesUK) August 8, 2024
Blake has discussed everything in her interviews, both connected and unconnected to the movie, from her zodiac sign to dressing like a female herself and getting her co-star ready for a red carpet event. Although all of this may be attributed to a conspicuous deficiency in emotional intelligence, Blake is currently facing accusations of purposefully evading inquiries over the film’s DV topic. Exhibit A: Blake makes an inappropriate remark about how she should just provide her address and location when asked directly what she would say to fans who would wish to get in touch with her over the “sensitive themes” in the movie, then launches into a filler about how she is a Virgo.
Justin Baldoni’s PR could certainly be spinning things (truly I don’t doubt it) but let’s be clear here that Blake Lively said THIS!!!!! entirely!!!! on her own!!!! pic.twitter.com/dQj81DzI2X
— Sophie Ross (@SophRossss) August 15, 2024
Fans are also annoyed by Blake’s constant promotion of her own recently released hair care line, which is frequently brought up in isolation and ignores the pressing issue that Blake, for some reason, refuses to address.
I don't think Blake lively read "it ends with us"
— my name? ✨🍁🎀™️ (@theycallmemide) August 13, 2024
The whole premiere is just her, her husband, clothing line hair products… nothing about DV nothing about women that go through things like that so ew
For better or worse, Blake is the subject of an entire trend on the internet these days, and meme-coding debates never let the internet down. Many artists have started posting reels with snappy one-liners portraying genuinely heartfelt movies or emotionally charged pictures with the most tone-deaf, false interpretations of their stories while assuming the persona of Blake.
On social media, overly dramatic parodies of Blake from the creative community have also proliferated.
What has Ryan Reynolds got to do with all of this?
You can always count on Ryan Reynolds to be around wherever Blake is, and vice versa. Although this has been the couple’s USP for years, given the current situation, it appears to be their greatest downfall this time. At the movie’s New York premiere earlier this month, Blake blushed when she said that Ryan had a significant influence on the way the movie turned out and that she had also “written” the pivotal rooftop sequence. Blake was expecting to make her husband and herself seem cute, but it hasn’t worked out that way.
Ryan’s contribution to the script was unknown to Christy Hall, the real author for the movie. She dismissed any parts that she was unable to recognize as being written by her as possible on-the-spot improvisation. “Therefore, I’m proud of the scenario and I recognize it. Christy said the main text was remained distinctly hers in a clip sent to The Hollywood Reporter. “And if those flourishes came from Ryan, I think that’s wonderful,” Christy added.
But the real problem here is that Ryan could have “crossed the picket line.” The Writers Strike, which constituted half of the Hollywood Twin Strikes, transpired from May to September of 2023. At this time, filming on It Ends With Us started. Filming may only start in this scenario, per the regulations, if the script is locked. Ryan would have violated the WAG’s principles and its goals at the time if he had truly gone back in to alter the rooftop sequence.
Did @VancityReynolds cross the picket line during the writers strike? @WGAWest Even though the movie had a locked script? Confirming they railroaded the director @justinbaldoni and the movie #ItEndsWithUs @colleenhoover pic.twitter.com/vEhAj1c4fJ
— KoyaKook⁷_MusebyJM💜 (@KoyaKook97) August 12, 2024
There’s something fishy about the Blake vs Justin drama
The approaches taken by Blake and Justin to promote their respective movies have diverged significantly. Blake has been all about going out on a girl’s night with your best friends, while Justin has been more measured, conversational, and focused on genuine advocacy and allyship in his interviews and comments.
Having said that, there was clear friction between Blake and Justin throughout the initial phase of their promotions. Additionally, reports claim that Blake told him how he was made to feel uncomfortable by him and that he was fat-shamed for taking longer than necessary for an intimate session on TV. Not only that, but Justin seemed to be at odds with the rest of the actors as well, walking the NY premiere red carpet alone with his spouse.
Justin’s situation continues to split the internet. The actor-director has now brought on seasoned PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan, whose clientele includes Johnny Depp, in the midst of the controversy that has obviously eclipsed the film.
Blake has not yet addressed or acknowledged the disaster that is emerging.
