Blake Lively subtly hit back at backlash surrounding her “It Ends With Us” press tour.
Amid claims the actress has not focused on the film’s serious themes — namely its depiction of domestic violence — she reshared a clip Tuesday on her Instagram Story from an interview with BBC News.
“She is not just a survivor, and she’s not just a victim, and while those are huge things to be, they are not her identity,” Lively, 36, said Friday of her character, Lily Bloom.
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She added that Lily “is not defined by something someone else did to her or an event that happened to her, even if it’s multiple events.”
The “Gossip Girl” alum noted, “She defines herself, and I think that’s deeply empowering. … No one else can define you. No experience can define you. You define you.”
Lively wrote a lengthy message over the footage, beginning by thanking “everyone who came out to show that people WANT to see films about women and the multitudes we hold.”
ndon premiere on Thursday." >She continued, “‘It Ends With Us’ is the story of the female experience. All the highest highs and the lowest lows. And we are so proud of it.
“We have been in celebration of this film and of getting a message so important out there to the masses,” Lively concluded. “Thank you all for embracing @itendswithusmovie with the same pain, love and joy we had sharing it with you all.”
In the subsequent slide, she shared stats on intimate partner violence as well as a link for the hotline and access to “immediate help.”
Prior to the upload, Lively had been called out by social media users for focusing on floral fashion, her Blake Brown haircare line and her husband Ryan Reynolds’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” movie while promoting “It Ends With Us.”
One X user wrote, “Blake Lively spending the entire press run for her new film, which is about domestic violence and abuse, acting like it’s a fun gals night out like seeing ‘Mamma Mia’ and promoting her businesses at the same time is INSANE behavior.”
Others slammed an “out of touch” video of Lively cracking jokes when asked what she would say to people who “relate” to the movie’s heavy themes.
Many, however, have praised the film’s director — and Lively’s co-star — Justin Baldoni for addressing the movie’s message in numerous interviews.
Notably, the “Jane the Virgin” alum has not done press with the rest of the cast.
An industry source claimed Friday to Pvnew that Baldoni, 40, was “extremely difficult” and “none of the cast enjoyed working with him,” adding that he made Lively feel “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body following the birth of her son, Odin.
Throwback footage has since surfaced on social media of Baldoni and Lively appearing to argue on set earlier this year.
The filmmaker has reportedly hired veteran PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan for help amid the drama.
Baldoni’s and Lively’s reps have yet to respond to Pvnew’s requests for comment.
