Blake Lively's Most Controversial Moments

This article contains mentions of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Ever since she got her start in 2005 as Bridget in the beloved coming of age film "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," Blake Lively has had a stunning transformation and been a constant presence in Hollywood. Back in June 2011, relatively early on in her career, she did an interview with The National in which she said, "People think that acting and being famous go together, but I never wanted to be famous. I never knew I wanted to be an actor, but ... the more I acted, the more I discovered the art and craft of it."

In the same piece, "Green Lantern" director Martin Campbell predicted, "She's going to be very big." Today, Lively is everywhere — and unfortunately, it's not for all the right reasons. The blonde actor hasn't always been everyone's cup of tea, but since August 2024, she's faced more criticism and backlash than ever. In the wake of several poorly received appearances to promote "It Ends with Us," internet sleuths have done some digging, and many of the skeletons in Lively's closet have come back to haunt her.

On September 9, 2012, actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds tied the knot at Boone Hall Plantation. According to the Post and Courier, nearly 300 people were enslaved on the grounds of the cotton plantation at one point in the 1800s. It is also one of America's oldest plantations, but unfortunately, many people fail to recognize its history and only see it as Allie Hamilton's summer home in "The Notebook." Even with all the resources at Lively and the "Deadpool" star's disposal, they seemingly never bothered to look into the estate's past. In a 2020 chat with Fast Company, Reynolds apologized for his and Lively's wedding and labeled the choice of location as "a giant f**** mistake." 

The Aviation Gin founder elaborated, "It's impossible to reconcile. What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy." After a police officer murdered an innocent Black man named George Floyd in 2020, the "Gossip Girl" alum took to Instagram to acknowledge that as a mother, she was deeply saddened by living in a reality where parents had to fear how law enforcement would treat their children because of their race. Lively also took the opportunity to apologize for their plantation wedding, writing, "We're ashamed that in the past we've allowed ourselves to be uninformed about how deeply rooted systemic racism is." The TV star ended her post by confirming that the celebrity couple had donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Reportedly, plenty of celebrities aren't fans of Blake Lively, and most of them tend to be her former castmates. According to a 2008 New York Magazine article, one of Lively's "Gossip Girl" co-stars, Leighton Meester, couldn't stand her and tried to interact with her as little as possible while they were working on the hit show. The former colleagues' rumored feud supposedly even caused friction between their fellow castmates, forcing them to ally with one or the other.

In a 2017 chat with Vanity Fair, executive producer Joshua Safran pointed out that Lively and Meester have vastly different personalities. He added, "Blake and Leighton were not friends. They were friendly, but they were not friends like Serena and Blair." Meanwhile, Lively's co-star from "A Simple Favor," Anna Kendrick, was open about her negative feelings towards her in a joint BuzzFeed interview. 

The "Gossip Girl" star confirmed that she was permitted to come to work over an hour late because she had worked extra the night before. However, Kendrick wasn't made aware of the schedule change, so she arrived at her regular call-time and had to wait extra long for her co-star to get ready as a result. So, it's unsurprising that she told Lively: "That was the day I decided I hate you." While that may have sounded like a joke, one of the film's crew members disclosed to "The Celebrity Memoir Book Club" podcast that they were so open about their mutual dislike that the studio had to urge the co-stars to make it less obvious during press events.

As highlighted, Blake Lively's relationship with Leighton Meester wasn't what was portrayed in the show. Unlike their characters, they would "avoid each other like the plague" on set, a source alleged to New York Magazine. 

This rivalry continued when Lively referred to Meester and her other co-stars as monkeys during a "Gossip Girl" panel discussion that same year. In a recording of the incident that has since been revived, Lively explained that Chuck Bass (played by Ed Westwick) originally had a pet monkey in the books, and she wasn't looking forward to this being a part of the series. "I was like, 'I would love to be part of the show but I can't act with a monkey,'" she said. "And then I got a few of them," Lively joked, gesturing toward Meester and other members of the cast who kept her gaze to the floor. As the audience laughed awkwardly and her fellow castmates shifted in their seats, Lively quickly tried to rebound from the uncomfortable moment, insisting, "Come on, it was a joke! Lord have mercy."

Flashback to April 2008 and Blake Lively was one of the most talked about up-and-comers thanks to her role as Serena van der Woodsen in "Gossip Girl." The show was incredibly popular, leading New York Magazine journalists Jessica Pressler and Chris Rovzar to meet with the cast and write a profile on the major players in the series. In doing so, it seems they might've ruffled a few feathers — particularly blonde feathers.

While Penn Badgley, Leighton Meester, and much of the rest of the cast spoke with the outlet kindly, it was unsurprisingly Lively who took issue with the journalists' questions. The actor spoke about how she'd been cast in "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" in which she would have a kissing scene with the legendary Alan Arkin. "He's a little bit of an upgrade from Chace [Crawford] and Penn [Badgley]. So I'm looking forward to that," she explained. However, at this time Lively had been rumored to be dating Badgley in real life, and when she was asked about this, the actor responded through a smile, "I thought this was New York Magazine. I thought you were supposed to be classy." Yikes.

On August 10, 2024 Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa uploaded a video to YouTube titled "The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job." In the resurfaced clip from 2016, the journalist sat down with "Café Society" stars Parker Posey and Blake Lively to discuss their latest flick. However, the conversation kicked off poorly when Flaa congratulated Lively on her second pregnancy. "Congrats on your little bump," she told the star, to which she immediately shot back, "Congrats on your little bump." The interviewer, who was not pregnant, later revealed that she suffered from fertility issues and couldn't have children, but Lively still hasn't apologized for the remark.

Throughout the interview, Lively and Posey spoke to one another, ignoring Flaa throughout much of the conversation. Lively also criticized the journalist for asking a question about their wardrobe in the movie, which was a period piece and had some stunning costumes involved. "I wonder if they would ask the men about the clothes," the "Gossip Girl" alum said pointedly. Flaa replied, "I would," but she was still ignored.

Several days after the initial video she'd shared went viral, Flaa posted a follow up on YouTube, explaining how the interaction affected her. "It made me nervous when I was interviewing other people after that. I blamed myself for it for a long time because I felt like I did or said something wrong," she remarked.

It isn't uncommon for celebrities' comments to come back to bite them in the butt, but Blake Lively is one of the latest stars to be called out for it. In several resurfaced clips, internet users have found that she's used a transgender slur many times. During one interview with Nylon TV in 2008, the "Gossip Girl" star said, "You read the gossip magazines and everybody is dating everyone, everybody hates everyone, everybody's had tons of plastic surgery, and we're actually men and tr***ies."

In another published conversation, this time with Allure in April 2009, Lively expressed, "I feel like a tr***y a lot of the time. I don't know, I'm ... large? They put me in six-inch heels, and I tower over every man. ... I just feel really big a lot of the time, and I'm surrounded by a lot of tiny people. I feel like a man sometimes" (via New York Magazine).

A final documented use of the word appeared in an interview with Elle in 2012, when Lively said, "I hope to have a few girls one day. If not girls, they better be tr***ies. Because I have some amazing shoes and bags and stories that need to be appreciated" (via Page Six). Over the years, our use and understanding of certain terminology has evolved, and while Lively may not have been aware of the connotations the word had at the time, internet users are intent on holding the actor accountable.

Like her husband, Blake Lively has promoted herself as a brand and has explored numerous ventures over the years. Back in 2014, the actor launched a lifestyle magazine and website called Preserve, which sold Southern-themed products. Unfortunately, as one Vox journalist put it, Lively also promoted "pro-slavery propaganda" with her brand.

One article in Preserve's magazine, "The Allure of Antebellum," detailed the lives of "Southern Belles" during pre-Civil War times as "women with an inherent social distinction who set the standards for style and appearance." The author wrote, "These women epitomized Southern hospitality with a cultivation of beauty and grace, but even more with a captivating and magnetic sensibility." The romanticization of this era was problematic, given that the high-society women described here were undoubtedly white slave owners.

Lively shut down the site in 2015, and in speaking with Entrepreneur in January 2023, she attributed the downfall of Preserve to it having "never caught up to its original mission." While she never publicly addressed the perceived racism, Lively described ending Preserve as "like a death," adding, "I poured everything I had into that company."

As of this writing, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds share four children, James, Inez, Betty, and Olin. However, before the two were even parents yet, Lively said something controversial about being pregnant, and it's an interview that has since been making the rounds.

When showing off her baby bump while pregnant with James on the red carpet in 2014, Lively spoke with Extra's AJ Calloway, who said, "How's it going? My wife is seven months [pregnant] right now, so I know what it's all like, the feet rubbing." Lively joked that Calloway's wife was just "taking advantage" of him, adding, "you can exploit it if you want" and that he "can't fall for that stuff." The actor added, "We just lie, it's the perfect way to get what you want all the time."

While some TikTok users defended Lively's jokes, explaining that she was being sarcastic, others weren't too happy with the actor. "I was on my feet working until I had my son. Yes they hurt, yes my husband rubbed them for me. I'm guessing she lives a pampered life whether pregnant or not so her feet probably aren't sore," one person wrote.

Woody Allen had long been considered a filmmaking legend, with movies like "Annie Hall," "Midnight in Paris," and 2016's "Café Society," which starred Blake Lively. However, the director's transgressions first came to light in 1992, when his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow accused him of molesting her as a child. The original allegation was quickly swept under the rug, but Farrow again accused Allen in 2014 and the controversy surrounding the director was a hot button topic.

Lively weighed in on the allegations in a May 2016 interview with the Los Angeles Times. She stated, "It's very dangerous to factor in things you don't know anything about. I could [only] know my experience. And my experience with Woody is he's empowering to women." Of course, such a statement invalidates Farrow's harrowing experience and didn't sit well with some.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.

One theme that seems to keep recurring in the latest controversy surrounding Blake Lively is her treatment of journalists during interviews. While promoting the film "All I See Is You" in October 2017, the actor sat down with DP/30 and all seemed to be going well ... until a particular question seemed to rub Lively the wrong way.

@metroentertainment

Awkward 😬 Blake Lively has been accused of being 'rude' in an interview that was resurfaced by fans. In the video, which was posted by DP/30: The Oral History Of Hollywood on @YouTube, Blake was promoting her 2017 film, All I See Is You, and stopped half way through to ask the reporter if he'd seen the movie. Blake has been at the centre of headlines ever since fans picked up on an alleged feud between her and her It Ends With Us co-star, @Justin Baldoni. Since the drama, Justin has hired a 'crisis PR manager' to seemingly help him get through the controversy unscathed. 📲 Follow us for popular entertainment content and more. #blakelively #justinbaldoni #itendswithusmovie #drama #redcarpet #premiere #discussion #castmates #itendswithus #romance #dating #girltok #interview #gossipgirl #hughjackman #ryanreynolds #deadpoolandwolverine #movies #filmtok #gossip #tea #fyp #foryoupage

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♬ original sound – Metro Entertainment

In the TikTok video, which has since gone viral, the interviewer asked, "So do you feel free now to try everything?" Lively, wide-eyed and seemingly irritated, shot back, "What does that mean?" The reporter tried to explain that he meant that if she didn't feel comfortable in a skill, she might not do it, like singing. Lively reminded him that she did indeed sing in the movie, and then added sarcastically, "Did you see the movie?" While the reporter assured Lively that he had seen "All I See Is You," the actor shot a look at someone off camera and retorted that they would be giving him "a pop quiz" when the interview wrapped. He attempted to smooth things over by rephrasing the question, but it was clear that Lively's pointed accusations had flustered the interviewer.

When the #MeToo movement rose to prominence in October 2017 in light of the Harvey Weinstein allegations of sexual misconduct, many celebrities were quick to support the survivors of sexual violence. While Blake Lively, who had been acquainted with film producer several years prior, did speak with The Hollywood Reporter at the time about the importance of speaking out and listening to women, she did little to denounce Weinstein's behavior.

"That was never my experience with Harvey in any way whatsoever, and I think that if people heard these stories ... I do believe in humanity enough to think that this wouldn't have just continued. I never heard any stories like this — I never heard anything specific — but it's devastating to hear," she said. Interestingly, just two days after this interview was published, Lively told The Los Angeles Times that she'd been sexually harassed by a makeup artist.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In March 2024, the royal family shared a photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her three children together and it took the internet by storm. Many pointed out that the image had been poorly photoshopped, leading to speculation over Princess Catherine's wellbeing. The post was quickly deleted, but Blake Lively decided to use the controversy to her brand's advantage. She shared an absurdly edited Instagram snap of herself holding her Betty Buzz drink with an enlarged thumb and a lemon floating above her head, writing, "I'm so excited to share this new photo I just took today to announce our 4 new [Betty Buzz] & [Betty Booz]e products."

The jab at Princess Catherine's photo editing skills may have been funny to some, but shortly after, the royal family announced that the princess had been diagnosed with cancer. Lively quickly removed her post and wrote an apology on her Instagram story that read, "I'm sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this. I made a silly post around the 'photoshop fails' frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today. I'm sorry."

In 2024, Blake Lively starred in the big-screen adaption of Colleen Hoover's smash hit book "It Ends With Us," which is centered around an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. Given the seriousness of the source material, most people expected a toned-down promotional tour that respected those who were or had been in similar situations. Instead, we got Lively seemingly suggesting that it was the perfect movie for a fun girls' night out, enthusing, "Grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see it," in a promotional clip on Facebook. 

Hoover, Lively, and stars Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer even appeared in an Instagram video that showed them actually having a girls' night-in while casually discussing topics like zodiac signs and their dream jobs. "The Shallows" star made things even stranger by stating that she was having such a blast promoting the film that she wished it would never end. One commentator wrote that it seemed like they were trying to promote the film as if it were "Barbie." 

There was also another odd moment when Lively and the movie's director and co-lead, Justin Baldoni, sat down for an interview with "Jake's Takes," during which the interviewer asked how someone who had watched their film could approach Lively to talk about their experiences. She sarcastically answered, "Maybe asking for, like, my address, or my phone number. Or, like, location share? I could just location-share you." 

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

In August 2024, TMZ reported that Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively had developed an icy relationship while working on "It Ends With Us." An insider revealed that "The Town" star wasn't happy with her dual roles as both a producer and the lead of the movie and wanted more creative input. So, Lively instructed an editor to make a new cut of the movie and teamed up with her husband Ryan Reynolds to make a few changes to the script after everything was nearly finalized

 Later, sources informed TMZ that Baldoni was to blame for engineering a tense atmosphere on the set. Lively felt that he kissed her for longer than he should have while filming a particular scene. Confidants also claimed that Baldoni inquired about his co-star's weight because his long-standing back issues could worsen if he didn't take appropriate measures to support himself. Lively didn't take kindly to the inquiry, believing he was negatively commenting on her weight since Baldoni was preparing to lift her in a subsequent scene.

A few days before these articles went live, TMZ also posted a video of the warring co-stars seemingly having an argument on set. Their supposed differences even led Baldoni and Lively's castmates to pick sides. That account seemed more plausible when the director did most of his promo by himself, while Lively was typically accompanied by the rest of the cast. And to top it all off, she doesn't follow Baldoni on Instagram despite following most of her co-stars.

Around the same time Blake Lively's infamous interview on "Jake's Takes" started gaining traction, yet another video of the actor being not so kind started making waves. In the TikTok clip, a fan attending the "It Ends with Us" premiere in London handed Lively a friendship bracelet they made. "Thank you so much. That's so sweet," the actor said. She quickly added, "I'm going to put it here because it doesn't go with my outfit, but I will wear it later," before moving on. The video then showed Lively's co-star accepting a similar bracelet and excitedly putting it on then and there.

@allocine

Blake Lively est fan de son nouveau bracelet de l'amitié ....#onregardequoi#swifties #friendshipbracelets #itendswithus #filmtok

♬ son original – AlloCiné – AlloCiné

The comment section flooded with shock and dismay over Lively's response, and the video became yet another example of the actor's most controversial moments. "Regina George vibes," one user commented, referencing the antagonist in "Mean Girls." Another added, "Why in 2024 are we just learning who [Lively] is?" while another comment under the video read, "If someone said that to me I'd like cry." Others remarked how the bracelet matched Lively's earrings perfectly, and could've worn the bracelet if she'd wanted to.