Amid the buzz surrounding Ryan Reynolds’ recent iteration of Deadpool & Wolverine, even Blake Lively dropped her latest movie It Ends With Us. It seems the duo is even releasing movies by following #couplegoals. But amid excitement surrounding Lively’s project, the actress surprisingly sparked debate over her distinctive approach to promoting her film.
Known for her flair in fashion and personal branding, as Blake Lively centered her promotional campaign for It Ends With Us around floral motifs, creating a striking visual aesthetic, the actress got called out by audiences. Considering that Justin Baldoni’s film deals with the serious issue of domestic violence, fans criticized Lively’s style and her joint appearances with her husband, which shifted the promotional focus of the film.
Blake Lively’s Floral Campaign for It Ends With Us Sparks Backlash
Blake Lively’s latest movie It Ends With Us, released on August 9, has become an outrageous topic among netizens. Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel, the Justin Baldoni-directed movie set the stage for raising awareness against domestic violence, after the protagonist of the film Lily Bloom (Lively) suffered violent abuses, people expected the actress to address the issue during promotions.
But surprisingly, in recent months, Blake Lively has embraced a promotional strategy that sparked considerable debate among fans. Despite the movie tackling the harrowing subject of domestic violence, as Lively’s promotional campaign shifted the film’s focus from serious themes to a more aesthetic-driven approach, it raised eyebrows. Soon, the actress started facing backlash online.
According to Glamour, Blake Lively, who is known for her keen fashion sense, shockingly centered her promotional efforts around floral motifs, a key visual element in the movie. This choice while aligned with Margot Robbie and Zendaya’s recent trend of using thematic elements in their promotional tours, seemingly overshadowing the critical message of Lively’s film. Therefore, the actress’ strategy was met with brutal criticism.
Fans Criticize Blake Lively for Forgetting the Focus of Her Film
Adding fuel to the fire, Blake Lively’s promotion prominently featured her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alongside her. Thereafter, the actress’ coupling of her film’s promotion with Reynolds’ high-profile project Deadpool & Wolverine, has led some fans to accuse Lively of attempting to replicate the “Barbenheimer” trend. This sparked further backlash since people claimed that the couple’s public appearance sidelined the sensitive subject matter of the film.
Perhaps, things would have been a bit easier if Blake Lively would have at least addressed the issue of domestic violence portrayed in her movie. But unfortunately, as the actress refrained from indulging in the sensitive narrative of her movie, and instead focused on the aesthetic element, Lively got called out by netizens. Considering how Lively has been an advocate for women’s rights and openly claimed to be a feminist, fans didn’t expect her to steer away from the topic of domestic violence.
Further, another incident noticed by keen-eyed viewers added insult to injury. The absence of filmmaker/actor Justin Baldoni from the press tour for It Ends With Us has not gone unnoticed. People have pointed out that Baldoni has been noticeably absent from promotional activities, with Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds (who wasn’t even in the movie) taking center stage. This has led to concerns that the director’s voice and vision for the film are being repeatedly overshadowed.
Since the filmmaker has been the only one to address the subject matter of the film and raise awareness about domestic violence, during his individual interviews, it sparked debate among fans. People began wondering about the behind-the-scenes drama that might have caused Justin Baldoni to stay away from the promotional tours alongside Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
It Ends With Us is currently running at your nearest theaters.
