A journalist published her “nightmare” interview with Blake Lively amid the drama surrounding the actress’ new film Break the circle.
On social media, fans have criticised Lively for her “insensitive” approach to press for the film, considering it is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book about domestic violence and abuse.
People criticized the star of Gossip Girl to promote Break the circle with such a light-hearted tone, as well as promoting her new hair care line in the process. Business ties also raised eyebrows, including her themed cocktails, one of which is called “Ryle You Wait,” after the offending character.
Amid criticism against Lively (36 years old), a Norwegian journalist, Kjersti Flaa, posted a clip from a 2016 interview with the actresswhich left her “wanting to quit” her job.
The interview was to promote the film Café Societydirected by Woody Allen. Lively was accompanied by her co-star Parker Posey.
Prior to the interview, which is believed to have taken place around the film’s July release date, the actress, then 28, had announced in May that she was pregnant with her second child with husband Ryan Reynolds.
Flaa begins the interview by congratulating the actress on her “little bump,” to which Lively sarcastically responds, “Congratulations on tu “small lump”.
Posey appears to try to ease the tension by showing off his backside “bulge,” after which Lively goes on to talk about the actress’s “lovely feminine bulges” while Flaa waits to begin the interview.
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(Kjersti Flaa / YouTube)
Speaking about the film, the journalist says she found it “visually stunning” and asks if Lively and Posey enjoyed the fashion, an element that played an important role in a film set in the 1930s.
So Lively ignores Flaa, and instead turns to Posey to say, “Everyone wants to talk about clothes, but I wonder if you ask men about clothes.”
Although Flaa replies that she “would” have asked the same question to the male actors, Lively seems to ignore her and begins talking to Posey about the best suits the men wear in the film.
She concludes: “It’s not just women who wear the clothes, but I feel like the conversation is turning to women.”
Flaa titled the video a YouTube“The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job.”
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(Getty Images)
In the video description, she wrote: “Sitting down with Blake Lively and her co-star Parker Posey to talk about Café Society (2016) is the most uncomfortable interview I have ever experienced.”
“Is it not okay to congratulate someone on their pregnancy or ask another woman about the outfit she wears in a movie?” she asked. “Let me know what you think in the comments.”
People have largely agreed with Flaa, commenting on the actress’ rudeness and “bullying” behaviour in the clip, which has been viewed more than 723,000 times.
“That’s why I always say that women don’t always use physical violence, but psychological violence is just as painful. Bad girls sometimes never grow up,” one person said.
Another commented: “Blake has mastered making being passive aggressive sound like they are being polite and tolerant.”
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They buy what they sell: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds at the New York premiere of ‘Breaking the Circle’ this month (Getty Images)
“This reminded me of how I used to get bullied in high school. It’s a weird type of bullying where you’re constantly put down and then ignored. Kudos to the interviewer for staying calm,” a third person said.
Someone else wrote: “Good on the interviewer for not getting carried away by his crude behaviour.”
Many people also claimed that Lively had “made a rude comment about the interviewer’s body” when she commented on her “small bump” and accused the actress of “trying to humiliate” the interviewer.
The Independent reached out to a representative for Lively for comment.
The actress recently appeared to respond to criticism for her behavior during the press tour for Break the circle with an Instagram post in which she spoke out against domestic violence.
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The drama comes amid rumors of a feud between Lively and Justin Baldoni, who not only plays the husband in the film but also directs it.
Baldoni reportedly hired Johnny Depp’s crisis manager and PR veteran Melissa Nathan, according to Deadline.
Hundreds of critics on social media have flooded Lively’s comments to express that she has been insensitive with her optimistic attitude, considering the film deals with such serious issues.
In a promotional clip, Lively encouraged viewers to wear “their flowers,” echoing the “wear pink” trend around Barbie last year.
Others believe that the star is being criticized too much. Age of Adalineand claim that the actress simply sees her character differently than Baldoni, who has been noticeably more serious in his approach to the press.
In an interview with Entertainment TonightBaldoni received a congratulations from an interviewer who told him: “This is your night, sir!” The actor replied seriously: “No, this is not my night. This is a night for all the women for whom we made this film.”
Break the circle is now available in theaters.
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support to women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the website Refuge. For the Men’s counseling line The number is 0808 8010 327. Those who reside in the United States can call the domestic violence support line, whose number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Other international helplines can also be found at www.befrienders.org.
Translation of Michelle Padilla
