It’s been an unusual few weeks for Blake Lively. Since the release of her latest film, It Ends With Us, on August 9, the movie has soared to become her highest-grossing film to date, raking in more than $242 million worldwide. However, this success has been accompanied by intense off-screen speculation regarding alleged behind-the-scenes issues.
As Lively celebrated her birthday over the weekend at Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home, surrounded by star-studded company, her sister Robyn took to social media to honor the occasion. On Sunday, Robyn shared a heartfelt post with multiple photos of herself and Blake, captioned, “That’s my bday queen right there!” Alongside snapshots of the two on the beach, taking selfies, and sharing childhood memories, Robyn added, “I love this girl, my sister, my best friend, my little piggy back buddy! You are one of the best humans I know. HAPPY birthday sissy britches!”
Family Support Amid Controversy
Robyn Lively, best known for her role in 1989’s Teen Witch, also plays a small part in the big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestseller, It Ends With Us. The movie has been at the center of controversy, particularly due to rumors of tension between Blake Lively and her co-star/director Justin Baldoni. Reports indicate that the two seemingly avoided each other at the New York premiere, and eagle-eyed fans have noticed that Blake does not follow Baldoni on social media, nor does Hoover or fellow cast member Jenny Slate. Furthermore, Blake has refrained from mentioning Baldoni directly in press interviews related to the film.
Rumors and Reputation
Amid the swirling rumors, Blake Lively has faced criticism for allegedly downplaying the film’s darker themes of domestic violence in her interviews, a subject that Baldoni has frequently highlighted during promotions. Critics have also accused Lively of leveraging the project to promote her own brands. In response to the backlash, Blake added a link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline on her Instagram Story, describing It Ends With Us as “a story of the female experience.”
The following day, Sony Pictures chief Tony Vinciquerra publicly supported Lively, stating in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, “Blake, Colleen, and so many women put so much effort into this remarkable movie, working selflessly from the start to ensure that such an important subject matter was handled with care. Audiences love the movie. We love working with Blake, and we want to do 12 more movies with her.”
Cast Members Speak Out
On August 20, Brandon Sklenar, who plays Blake Lively’s other love interest, Atlas, in the film, took to Instagram to address the controversy. “Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves,” he wrote. “Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about. What may or may not have happened behind the scenes does not, and hopefully should not, detract from what our intentions were in making this film. It’s been disheartening to see the amount of negativity being projected online.”
In the comments section of Robyn’s birthday post, one supportive user wrote, “Blake is a lovely human being! I hope she knows that the multitudes of people who love her is so much greater than the negative voices. Happy birthday Blake!!” Robyn responded appreciatively, “Thank you for this,” accompanied by raised-hands and red heart emojis.
As Blake Lively continues to navigate the drama surrounding It Ends With Us, her dedication to the project and the support from her loved ones remain steadfast, ensuring that she continues to shine both on and off the screen.