Blake Lively faces backlash for calling The Shawshank Redemption her funniest movie, adding to her PR woes amid It Ends With Us controversies.
Blake Lively’s 2014 comment calling The Shawshank Redemption the movie that made her laugh the hardest at has resurfaced.
Lively’s It Ends With Us press tour has been marred by self-promotion, a feud with co-star Justin Baldoni, and a lack of focus on the film’s serious themes of domestic violence.
Past interviews and controversies, including her flippant remarks and promotional missteps, have damaged her public image.
Blake Lively rose to prominence with her roles in Gossip Girl and The Age of Adaline, and she has long been a part of Hollywood’s glamour circuit. Her high-profile marriage to Ryan Reynolds, their witty banter, and her impeccable style created an unparalleled image of the actress. But her past comments about one film, starring Morgan Freeman, have brought her under fire again.
Blake Lively | Vogue / YouTube
Lively has been facing backlash for months, with the ongoing It Ends with Us controversy and legal troubles with Justin Baldoni, her past interviews and clips have been making rounds on the internet. So let’s look at another one of these moments that has marred the actress’ image.
Blake Lively’s remark about Morgan Freeman’s The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd in The Shawshank Redemption | Castle Rock Entertainment
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 classic that stars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the film chronicles the struggles of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is falsely convicted for murder. The movie features his harrowing journey through life in prison and is a story full of poignant moments and emotional depth. It’s adapted from Stephen King’s novella and has ranked high in all discussions about cinema.
However, during a 2014 Vogue 73 Questions interview, Blake Lively’s remark about the movie left many wondering if she was being sarcastic or was simply out of touch. When asked about which movie made her laugh the hardest, she casually answered The Shawshank Redemption.
This comment has now added to the narrative about her lacking self-awareness and being insensitive. Given that the movie is widely recognized to be so emotionally moving, her response might come off as offensive to many. With the actress already facing scrutiny for a lot of her actions in recent times, this resurfaced clip has only added fuel to the fire.
A pattern of PR missteps and Blake Lively’s troubled It Ends with Us press tour
Blake Lively in It Ends with Us | Sony Pictures Entertainment
This bizarre response is only the latest one in her string of past PR blunders. While promoting It Ends with Us, a film about domestic violence, Blake Lively was criticized for largely focusing on self-promotion rather than talking about the film’s subject matter (via Vox).
She was talking about her haircare brand, and her beverage company, and was accused of making it all about her. One viral promotional clip featured how the actress was encouraging her fans to go for the movie, as if it was a lighthearted film that you watch with your “friends,” wearing “florals.”
Her feud with director and co-star Justin Baldoni overshadowed It Ends with Us completely, and the two avoided doing press together. Many of her past interviews have resurfaced on the internet, and they’ve only damaged her public image. As the scrutiny against her intensifies, one thing is clear, Blake Lively’s PR nightmare is far from over.
You can watch The Shawshank Redemption and It Ends with Us on Netflix.
