- Blake Lively's trouble is the dispute over her latest film.
What happened between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? This question is currently on the minds of many fans online. The two are promoting the film adaptation of "Just Once More," in which they play the lead roles. But here's the thing: they're not doing it together. And this, despite Baldoni directing the film and Lively serving as its producer. The scandal was complete when the two didn't even pose for a single photo together at the film's world premiere.
The rumor mill really started boiling, however, with this red carpet clip, in which Lively's co-star Jenny Slate tries almost comically to avoid a question about Baldoni. And it's not just her and the other co-stars who seem to be avoiding Baldoni; the author of the source novel, Colleen Hoover, has also unfollowed him on Instagram. It's no wonder, then, that countless theories about the rift have been circulating online. Did Blake Lively really not agree with the film's cut and have a new version made on her own, as some speculate? Or did Baldoni perhaps not like that Lively involved her husband Ryan Reynolds so much? The Hollywood star even wrote a scene in the script, as Lively recently revealed. "We help each other. He works on everything I do, and I work on everything he does," she explained. Others, however, suspect that the alleged feud is just a big show to get as much attention for the film as possible.
Is Blake Lively betting on commercial success, Baldoni on awareness?
The whole thing is reminiscent of another troubled film launch two years ago: the press tour of "Don't Worry, Darling" made headlines when the film's lead actress, Florence Pugh, and director Olivia Wilde appeared to have fallen out. Pugh barely promoted the film on social media and even canceled her participation in a press conference at the Venice Film Festival at short notice. The fact that her co-star Harry Styles was also linked to Wilde at the time added extra spice to the situation. The whole team was reportedly so divided that Styles was said to have - the internet was sure - even spat on his co-star Chris Pine at a film screening.
But in the drama surrounding Blake Lively and co., there's another component to the speculation about possible feuds: criticism of how the film is being marketed. Lively plays the traumatized florist Lily Bloom in "Just Once More," who had a violent father and now gets into a toxic relationship. While Baldoni often talks about the aspect of domestic violence in interviews and does awareness work, Lively is promoting the project more like a light romantic comedy, according to the criticism.
Successful start for "Just Once More" in the USA
The 36-year-old promoted her cocktail brand in a manner reminiscent of a film, simultaneously launching her own shampoo line during the film's promotion. Her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was also on a press tour for his action film "Deadpool & Wolverine" at the same time, which added to the frustration. Lively's marketing strategy seemed to aim for a similar crossover effect as seen last year with the box office hits "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer", which together raked in record sums. Reynolds and his co-star Hugh Jackman not only posed with Lively and her team on the red carpet but also actively promoted "Just One More Time", even appearing in a comedic interview sketch where Reynolds playfully feigned jealousy. This sparked outrage online, with comments like "There's nothing romantic about domestic violence" on "X".
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that an investigative report will soon reveal the dark truths behind the drama. One thing is certain: commercially, the hype and the "Barbenheimer" strategy have already paid off. In the US, "Just One More Time" immediately debuted at number two in the box office charts, narrowly behind Reynolds' action hit "Deadpool & Wolverine". This is the first time in 34 years that a couple has simultaneously occupied the top two spots at the US box office. In 1990, Bruce Willis with "Die Hard 2" and Demi Moore with "Ghost" achieved this feat, but without the drama.
Despite their prominent roles in "Just Once More" and working closely on the film, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni unexpectedly avoided each other at the film's premiere, fueling speculation about a potential rift. Additionally, Lively is promoting the film as more of a light romantic comedy while Baldoni focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence in interviews.
The marketing strategies of both Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds during the film's promotion have stirred controversy, with some criticizing their approach and others praising their crossover effort for commercial success.
