Ever been on a seemingly succinct press tour that turned into an awkward interview, viral comments, and public spats? If not, just ask Blake Lively. From maintaining a chilly distance from her It Ends with Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, to cheekily declaring that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, penned a pivotal scene, Lively’s promotional blitz has been anything but a cakewalk.
The film, which delves deep into the turbulent relationship between Lily (played by Lively) and Ryle (Justin Baldoni), has garnered significant attention—not just for its serious storyline but also for the off-screen fireworks. Recently, a flippant comment by Lively during an interview with journalist Jake Hamilton sent the internet abuzz.
Blake Lively’s Comments on It Ends with Us Didn’t Sit Well with Fans
In case you’ve been living under a rock or simply too busy, here’s a quick recap: It Ends With Us centers around Lily, played by Blake Lively, who falls head over heels for a suave neurosurgeon, Ryle (Justin Baldoni). However, as their relationship deepens, Lily starts to recognize red flags in Ryle’s behavior
However, the film has largely stolen the spotlight thanks to a simmering feud between Lively and Baldoni, who also took the helm as its director.
Recently, during a virtual press junket (via Jake’s Takes), Lively found herself steering a conversational minefield. Reporter Jake Hamilton threw a curveball question about how viewers might connect with the film’s heavy themes. To quote him:
This movie is gonna affect people, and they’re gonna wanna tell you about their life.
He went on to ask:
If someone understands the themes of this movie, comes across you in public, and they wanna really talk to you, what’s the best way for them to be able to talk to you about this? How would you recommend they go about it?
Lively, ever the queen of quips, replied with a touch of sarcasm that might have missed the mark:
Like, asking for my address, or my phone number, or, like, location share? I could just location-share you… I’m a Virgo, so like, are we talking logistics, are we talking emotionally?
Her co-star, Brandon Sklenar, meanwhile, played the role of the silent sidekick, content to let the verbal fireworks go off without adding any fuel to the fire. Lively’s casual response, naturally, didn’t sit well with fans, who felt the gravity of the question deserved a more measured response. Let’s see some of the views (via YouTube):
People actually defending her is baffling to me, yall need actual help. -@user-fg1of2zp9m
She really just be saying a whole lot w a bunch of nothing. -@scarlette5324
Can she let him speak shes so passive aggressive. -@Iamanillusion1
This is so hard to watch. The lack of authenticity. You cannot miss it. -@QueenSis13
Why did people ever like her. -@Latoyas_got_your_soul
It Ends with Us debuted on August 9, 2024, courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing. The film has managed to pull in a respectable $180 million worldwide against a $25 million budget (The Numbers), despite receiving mixed reviews.
The Message for Victims in It Ends with Us, According to Blake Lively
This latest slip-up is just the icing on the cake of Blake Lively’s eventful press tour. At the London premiere, she discussed the film’s handling of domestic violence, emphasizing that the protagonist is more than just her victimization.
Ryan Reynolds’ wife told the BBC:
This movie covers domestic violence but what’s important about this film is that she is not just a survivor and not just a victim. While those are huge things to be, they’re not her identity. She’s not defined by what someone else did to her or an event that happened to her.
The promotional campaign for It Ends with Us—marked by Lively’s seemingly carefree interviews—has faced a bit of a backlash, with some fans labeling it as “tone deaf” and “shallow” (as noted by the Daily Mail).
With all the buzz surrounding Columbia Pictures’ film, it seems Lively knows how to keep audiences intrigued both on and off the screen.
It Ends with Us is currently running in theaters.
