Blake Lively, once adored for her charming on-screen presence and effortless style, is now finding herself in the crosshairs of social media criticism. With the resurgence of a couple of “hard to watch” interviews, the Gossip Girl alum is being bashed on TikTok, leaving fans and critics alike questioning whether Blake Lively’s sparkling image might be losing its shine.
A Nightmare Interview Resurfaces
The controversy began when a 2016 interview between Lively and journalist Kjersti Flaa resurfaced, stirring up a whirlwind of backlash. Flaa, now 51, recalled how an innocent compliment about Lively’s “little bump” turned into a nightmare. To Flaa’s dismay, the actress responded sarcastically, pointing out the “bump” in a way that seemed to hit a nerve. Flaa later revealed that she wasn’t pregnant and, in fact, couldn’t have children—a painful truth that made Lively’s comment feel like a dagger.
Flaa opened up about her struggles with infertility, explaining how the inability to conceive had been a source of deep pain and frustration for her. The comment about the “bump” wasn’t just a passing remark; it was a cruel reminder of something Flaa had longed for but could never have. Lively’s sarcastic response struck a deeply personal and sensitive chord, leaving Flaa feeling exposed and humiliated. The actress’s reaction seemed to underscore a lack of awareness or empathy, something that many viewers found particularly jarring given the personal nature of the topic.
As if the initial exchange wasn’t bad enough, Lively reportedly continued to belittle Flaa during the interview, alongside co-star Parker Posey. Flaa described the experience as “traumatizing,” explaining that Lively and Posey seemed more interested in chatting with each other than engaging with her, leaving the interviewer feeling ignored and humiliated.
TikTok Takes Aim
The firestorm didn’t stop there. The very next day, another interview clip from 2017 started making the rounds on TikTok, this time featuring Lively’s awkward exchange with a DP/30 journalist. Promoting her movie “All I See Is You,” Lively was asked whether she felt “free to try everything” in the film. Rather than a straightforward response, she seemingly rolled her eyes and interrupted with, “What does that mean?”
When the journalist clarified, referencing her singing in the film, Lively shot back, “Did you see the movie? We’re gonna give you a pop quiz at the end of this.” The exchange left viewers cringing, with many labeling Lively’s behavior as “rude” and “condescending.”
Social media users were quick to express their disappointment. One TikTok user went as far as to accuse Lively of “terrorizing” the journalist, while another remarked, “Why are celebs like that? It’s their job to do interviews, not like they’re doing us a favor.” Despite a few defending Lively, arguing that the criticism was “forced” and exaggerated, the general consensus leaned heavily toward disappointment.
The “It Ends With Us” Drama
Adding fuel to the fire, rumors have swirled around the set of Lively’s upcoming film “It Ends With Us,” co-starring Justin Baldoni. Reports suggest that Lively and Baldoni’s relationship on set was less than amicable, with claims that Baldoni made Lively feel “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body after welcoming her fourth child. The tension between the two was palpable, as insiders noted that none of the cast members seemed to interact with Baldoni at the film’s New York City premiere.
While Baldoni has remained silent on the matter, reportedly hiring a crisis PR manager to handle the fallout, Lively has also come under fire for promoting her cocktail brand and haircare line during the press tour for “It Ends With Us.” Given the film’s heavy themes of domestic violence, critics have slammed Lively for what they perceive as an insensitive and tone-deaf marketing strategy.
The Social Media Backlash
In response to the growing criticism, Lively took to Instagram, posting resources for victims of domestic violence—an apparent attempt to deflect from the negative press. However, the gesture seemed to fall flat, with many questioning whether it was a genuine act of concern or merely a PR move.
The controversy even drew the attention of reality TV star Bethenny Frankel, who called out Lively’s apparent attempt to “triple- and quadruple-dip in monetizing businesses” during her press tour. Frankel compared Lively’s actions to Jennifer Lopez’s recent promotional blitz for “This Is Me … Now: A Love Story,” suggesting that both stars were more focused on cashing in than authentically connecting with their audiences.
A Falling Star?
As Blake Lively’s interviews continue to resurface and her actions on and off the screen come under scrutiny, it’s becoming clear that the actress’s once-unblemished image is starting to tarnish. Flaa’s painful revelation about her infertility, coupled with Lively’s sarcastic response, has left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans. While it remains to be seen how Lively will navigate this storm of criticism, one thing is certain: the Gossip Girl’s latest drama is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether she can bounce back from this PR nightmare or if it will leave a lasting dent in her career is a story that only time will tell.
