Blake Lively, RR & It Ends With Us drama

[notallbloom]

Have NC because I freely admit that I have (limited) skin in this game, I am not entirely neutral.

This tells the story of the rift better than I could video here more about JB here JB info

Have worked for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in the UK, they are ...erm not my favourite slebs to work with. BL can be nasty to staff, her I'm all for women thing would be great, if she wasn't awful to them in reality. RR sometimes apologetically, always sides with BL, as his wife.
However, she does have 4 young DCs, so has spent much of the last decade pregnant, or post partum, which is enough to make anyone tired and therefore appear 'difficult'.

As I am senior in my role, stars have to treat me with some decency. Even so, the mask slips, I do everything I can to make their time in the UK as comfortable as possible, whilst placating the staff they upset, I will not work with them if I can avoid it.

Justin Baldoni directed It Ends With Us, I do not know JB.

Anti JB side (note there isn't much information about what JB has done wrong):
• He was difficult on set.
• He was acting and directing, diluting his ability to do both.
• He has hired a the firm of PR crisis manager who helped to improve Johnny Depp's image during the Amber Heard trial.
• JB has a pro 'good' men podcast called Man Enough, largely it is positive. Unfortunately he had Drake Bell on the podcast and did not question his accountability for previous SA.

Anti BL side:
• BL is trying to give the film a Barbie moment, encouraging audiences, for a film about DV, to wear florals.
• BL has objected to two things; she says JB fat-shamed her on set and, in one scene kissed her for too long (no suggestion that the kiss itself was inappropriate e.g. tongue).
• BL & RR made a cut of the film, which emphasises the rom-com of the story, rather than the DV.
• BL has corralled the author, Colleen Hoover and the cast to 'unfollow' JB on social media.
• RR rewrote a scene for the film without being asked by the director in doing so, RR broke the writer's strike.
• The cast have not been doing any press or standing on the red carpet at the premieres with JB.
• BL is using the film promo to also promote her new hair brand.

It may be that JB was a massive a-hole, or it may be that BL was a 'mean girl' and used her considerable power to influence the rest of the cast to be unpleasant to JB.
The truth could lie somewhere in the middle.

This is everything I know, I did not work on the film, or the promotion of it, so far.
I am able to agree that I have direct experience of seeing what BL and RR are like IRL, whereas I do not have the same experience of JB.
I'm prepared to accept that JB is the villain here.
I do not have any further information about this situation, if any comes my way I will, without breaking my contractual obligations, write about it here.

In fairness, I thought that question itself was a bit odd tbf.
Acting in a role doesn't suddenly make you an expert/activist/role model.
As someone just posted, Julia Roberts acquitted herself with aplomb when asked about the topic.
Blake's replies were poorly considered but she was being asked how she'd advise randos who wanted to approach her to tell their stories, how they should approach her. Yes, you do hear of some actors touched by the public's sharing of experiences but you wouldn't necessarily actively encourage it!
How do you want to be stalked, Blake?
It was a bit of a weird question. These things happen organically when fans might come up to you. But to predict that and ask, "What should they do?" is encroaching on her privacy. Taking on a role people might relate to, based on a book which might have stans, does not make you a therapist. She owes the audience diddly-squat. It would be nice to smile and nod. But boundaries.
Same as fandoms. Don't encourage the crazies.

Yes I didn’t read the book because of the uncomfortable messaging around it - the author praises her father in the end credits, who’s marriage to her mother the book was loosely based on; and in the book, the main protagonist allows him to continue to be in the child’s life after she’s born (despite the fact that he’s a rapist). She does leave him though. Basically, “men just need you to make them change”. I might be wrong, because I didn’t read it, but that’s the messaging I’ve heard the book has in it.

So the book and Colleen Hoover are / were problematic before any of this film press began.

@TerracottaWorrier you want to make DV a race to the bottom?
One of the problems with male DV is that it is hugely underreported, a DV injury can be passed off with many different excuses

None of which is to say that female DV is not the bigger problem.

There is enough division, without making this a men vs women thing.
Or are good men not allowed to support female survivors of DV?

I do think it's a stupid question to ask an actress. She's not a walking public information advert.

I always had a positive impression of BL. But trying to give it the Barbie spin by encouraging people to wear their florals was completely tactless. Also, the way she responded to the question about how fans may approach her about the theme and she completely missed the point of the question and actually joked about it was tone deaf. Came across as conceited and ignorant to the gravity of the subject matter of the film.

I did see the interview from years ago and she was extremely rude. Her and PP were intentionally trying to belittle and embarrass the interviewer, it was just unkind.

So my opinion has changed but tbh I never would have gone to see a BL film anyway.

I've found the past few days quite interesting. I like RR because of the films I've seen him in. (I bloody love The Proposal but that's mostly because I adore Sandra Bullock who I believe to be a lovely person and will cry if I hear differently!) I've had no real opinion about BL other than she's never going to be a top tier actor in terms of winning the top awards because she's not that good. I mean she's not awful but she's lacking the whole IT thing that makes you stand out - Julia Roberts has that - and the talent thing that makes people want to see your films.

Prior to a few days ago I didn't know that the film dealt with DV because I hadn't seen a trailer - I wasn't invested in a BL film - so given how I'd seen her at openings and a few things she'd said in interviews about the film I was a tiny bit taken aback. I seriously thought it was a romcom. I think she must have reall pissed some press people off because I'm not picking up on any of this through Twitter (and I don't doubt there are bots there adding fuel to the fire) but through the media. It feels as though she slipped up a bit and a load of people have gone "YES! I can finally make her as miserable as she made me/someone I know and love!" Doing the whole Barbie and whatever that tennis film that Zendaya was doing the promo for earlier this year with making her outfits all about flowers because her character was a florist is totally tone deaf as is promoting her own side hustles. My take is that she really isn't a very nice person at all (I've also watched that interview from 2016).

I don't know if JB is a decent sort or not. He appears to be but he might be playing a very clever game for all I know. But, even if he is an arsehole that doesn't mean she isn't one and she's been giving out big arsehole energy recently.

Thanks for posting this @notallbloom . I've been thinking about this a bit but not enough to post about it. I like the background info you've brought the the table and that you want to play fair. I think you've pretty much succeeded on the later.

You're quite right. No need to make this a competition at all! I'm not sure why you brought the whole men experience DV thing up in the first place! Glad you've changed your mind 😘

Try reading my post again, and notice how I say that I'm glad the director is taking one for the team by talking about women who have experienced DV and supporting them rather than leaving this to be just more emotional labour women need to carry.

In fairness, I thought that question itself was a bit odd tbf.
Acting in a role doesn't suddenly make you an expert/activist/role model

I think in this day & age when most celebs have media training you are expected to discuss the themes & topics of the film even when it’s difficult. Julia was getting asked about it over 30 yrs ago!

The Who Trolled Amber Heard podcast was a fascinating listen. It certainly opened my eyes to things I hadn't been aware of before.

@notallbloom please tell me Hugh J is nice.

I know there was a lot of talk that RR left AM & SJ because he couldn’t cope with their success and then BL said that couldn’t be true because look at her. I don’t think she can be very self aware.

They very much remind me of a couple I know. He is handsome and very amenable and funny and incredibly clever. She really thinks that she is the same and instead of being funny just rubs people up the wrong way.

I think BL seems desperate to match his success and whatever he’s got, she just doesn’t.

I find the whole ‘ why do women have to be nice’ argument to be wearing thin.

we get it - women are unfairly held to higher standards of behaviour than men.

but it doesn’t mean that people in positions of power ( male or female) should be able to treat people like shit.

why is shitting on a female journalist who was asking questions pertinent to the film and act of feminism?

@PotatoPie111 also hoping Hugh jackman is a nice person irl!

also interested in the couple you know…why do you think he is attracted to her?

i Also know a couple like this- bloke is lovely, charming, attractive and equally liked by men and women.

his wife is really annoying and actually a bit boring.

I can’t quite work out what’s in it for him? I’m sure he could have picked anyone, but almost think he chose someone who wouldn’t outshine him

riiigght...but even if the title of the post 'misled' you it was very obvious by the 2nd/3rd paragraph what it was actually about, "tawdry celeb tittle tattle"
which you have again proved you care absolutely nothing about by writing another four paragraphs about...

@Timefornewcareer I said up thread that woman should not be expected to be nice!

Sandra Bullock is every bit as professional, funny and understanding as you would imagine.

Hugh Jackman is hilarious and always generous with his time.

It's PR for beginners:

• Television show about elephants? You give the actors a website and telephone number for elephant charities.
• Film about SA? You ensure the cast know the support websites and telephone numbers etc, etc.

That BL probably knew that information and 'misunderstood'?

The film is doing really well in the US, I wonder if she will do an apology of some sort.

@Timefornewcareer i suppose he does. He was one of those guys who could have the pick of anyone and he married her. I suspect he knows others don’t like her so much, but he’s very much the loyal type. I know he’s been propositioned since he was married and isn’t interested in that.

My theory is that RR can’t be all bad as HJ likes him so that confirms it @notallbloom

If you’ve been affected by any of the anonymous character assassination on this thread, please call …

@notallbloom i know- I agree with you!

i was saying I get fed up with women using it as an excuse for bad behaviour - like they are a bad ass feminist for being rude.

but so happy to hear Hugh Jackman is lovely. Have only heard good things about Sandra Bullock- she’s a star!

The question wasn't phrased in a simple "Show compassion for DV survivors/give out helpline numbers" though, was it? As in, how did you prepare for the role/why is this role so significant for this time/toxic masculinity etc
It really was "How should fans approach you to tell you stuff?!"

She has no duty to listen to people's lived experience after the movie has been made. You can seek that out in research for a role. You don't necessarily want to encourage random women to run up to you to tell you how much it meant to them that you played a woman being beaten up. Not that I think many will from the trailer.

I've heard that the 'fat-shaming' came from JB asking for training on how to lift her for certain scenes because he has a bad back. She took it as a remark on her weight.

She doesn't, but that's not really how the question was phrased, or how I took it. He prefaced it by saying people like to talk and look up to celebrities so how would she deal with people wanting to address their own experiences that align with the film she's just been in, with her. Granted, she doesn't owe victims her time, but her response was rude, crass and tone deaf. Any other response than the one she gave would've been more appropriate. Considering it's the public who go and see her films that generate the funds that contribute to her wealth, there's an element of well, at least be fucking gracious.

how would she deal with people wanting to address their own experiences that align with the film she's just been in, with her

How would you have responded to that?
What would a PR approved response have been?
Not being antagonistic, genuinely curious.
She can't say
Any woman can contact me on/via
Or
I'd be happy/grateful for any woman moved/touched by the film to speak to me in person, just come on up
That only leaves
I'd advise any woman suffering from DV or PTSD to contact Woman's Aid, do a Freedom Course etc but that doesn't answer the question asked or neatly sidestep it so she tried to (poorly I agree) defuse it with humour

I watched Margot Robbie in Focus yesterday (film made 11 years ago with Will Smith). They had chemistry. I couldn't work out if they had hooked up or not. Again, no such thing as bad publicity.

Anything other than what she said
She's not stupid and has PR people (who are hopefully being paid serious overtime!), she could've come up with a more sensitive answer as she's obviously not going to literally invite people to accost her with their life experiences. The latter does actually, direct them to resources better equipped to deal with the matter more than her.

I can’t understand your motivation for posting this.
I’m sorry but ‘senior’ people usually act more professional than this - putting down your clients? You would have signed a non disclosure contract - why risk your career to post this?