As a compassionate observer of the lives of those in the limelight, I can’t help but feel deeply moved by Blake Lively‘s experiences. Her journey, marked by moments of heartbreaking privacy invasions and harrowing encounters with sexual harassment, paints a picture of a woman who has had to navigate the treacherous waters of Hollywood while keeping her family close to her heart.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at Blake Lively’s meteoric rise to global stardom, all thanks to her captivating portrayal on “Gossip Girl.” From gracing our screens in films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows,” to tying the knot with the dashing Ryan Reynolds of “Deadpool” fame, and maintaining a star-studded friendship with Taylor Swift, Blake’s life is always making headlines. Yet, her path to the limelight hasn’t been without its bumps.
Hailing from Los Angeles on August 25, 1987, Blake Lively spent her childhood in a family deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry. Despite show business being an inherent part of her, Lively’s journey from “Gossip Girl” fame to motherhood of four has been marked by some sorrowful events. With numerous triumphs in her life, the celebrated actress has also faced her share of hardships – from early adversities to recent heartbreaks. Join us as we delve into the heartrending, real-life narrative of Blake Lively.
Lively was bullied as a child
Regrettably, bullying is a common occurrence for many individuals, particularly during childhood. Interestingly, Blake Lively, known for her glamorous red carpet appearances, was once a victim of bullying due to her distinctive style in clothing. Since her mother had a keen eye for fashion, she would modify adult garments to fit young Lively, creating a unique wardrobe that she loved. However, this individuality made her stand out at the private school in Los Angeles where she studied, leading to unkind remarks about her clothes from classmates who preferred conforming to popular trends. As she shared with Vogue, “That was the only school where people were just plain cruel to me. They would mock my clothes because I dressed differently than the others.”
The actress has openly discussed her experiences as a victim of bullying during her childhood, due to her physical appearance. Back in 2018, she shared an Instagram post showing her visit to the “Sesame Street” set and her meeting with Big Bird. In her caption, she disclosed that children used to tease her by calling her Big Bird because of her height and hair color. She wrote, “During elementary school, kids would mock me by calling me Big Bird (since I was ‘too tall’ and had ‘yellow’ hair). Here’s to making friends with the things that once caused you pain.”
Gossip Girl prevented her from going to college
Blake Lively’s fame can be traced back to the show “Gossip Girl,” but it wasn’t her debut role on screen. Prior to that, she had already acted in movies like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “Simon Says.” Some of these roles were even filmed while she was still in school, necessitating shooting during school breaks. Despite starting her acting career at a young age, Lively harbored a desire to attend college, aiming to study at Stanford University.
Before securing the role of Serena van der Woodsen in “Gossip Girl,” Blonde already postponed her university education for a year and was hesitant to prolong this hiatus any more. Producers reassured the budding actress that she could balance schoolwork alongside the series, an arrangement that resonated with Lively. Nevertheless, the show gained popularity, requiring Lively to work tirelessly and extended hours, ultimately leaving no room for university studies.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lively shared that The CW had deceived her. Executive officials allegedly declined to include a college clause in her contract and instead made a verbal promise that they failed to uphold. “Here’s a piece of advice: if they say ‘We guarantee it, but we can’t put it in writing,’ there’s a reason for that,” she stated.
Lively lived in fear that her relationship with Penn Badgley would come out
Prior to her romance with Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively previously dated Penn Badgley, another actor. Today, he’s most recognized for his character Joe Goldberg in the Netflix series “You”, but back then, Badgley was also famous for playing Dan Humphrey in “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012. During their relationship, they both were in their early twenties and made efforts to conceal the fact that they were dating as they worked on their respective TV shows.
The primary cause for the “Gossip Girl” cast members not acknowledging dating rumors was their fear of disapproval from the network and series executives. Yet, they eventually confirmed their relationship, as they discovered that the show’s producers thought it could generate positive publicity.
In a conversation with Vanity Fair, she recalled a moment when we were anxious about our private lives intermingling with work, fearing how our bosses might perceive it. However, as time went by, we realized that’s precisely what they desired. They wanted us to date, wear the same outfits as our characters on set, and even promote a shared style. This was their aim because it strengthened their storyline. It made it easier for viewers to immerse themselves in this fictional world.
The Shallows took a physical toll on her body
Blake Lively has consistently proven herself as an actor who isn’t hesitant to fully immerse herself in a role. This dedication is evident in her transformations for projects like “Elvis and Annabelle,” where she portrayed a beauty queen with bulimia by changing her physical appearance, or through performing her own stunts, such as in the 2016 survival horror film “The Shallows.” In this movie, her character was stranded far from shore and hunted by a shark, forcing her to use her limited resources to stay alive. Remarkably, she executed nearly all of her own stunts during filming, demonstrating her commitment to delivering an impressive performance. However, this determination came at a cost to her body.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lively described the movie as intensely physical. There’s a scene where she swam towards a buoy and accidentally hit her face underwater, causing it to bleed. Remarkably, this wasn’t part of the plan – it actually happened during filming. Despite the injury, Lively was resolved to press on with the take unless she fainted. She wanted to show the team her resilience by continuing despite the pain. To this day, she takes pride in her bloody nose, as she endured significant discomfort for a whole week afterward.
She’s had to deal with malicious rumors
Regrettably, gossip is common in the realm of entertainment, and those venturing into the film industry should be prepared for some level of intrusion into their private lives. It’s just part of the job description. Although some rumors about actors might be accurate, there’s a lot of untruths and misinformation circulating, with numerous Hollywood celebrities dealing with countless falsehoods. For instance, someone like Blake Lively, a successful woman who shares the limelight with her husband Ryan Reynolds (who also experienced hardships in his life), often faces more scrutiny due to their high-profile relationship.
In a frank conversation with Vogue, Lively candidly discussed the distressing impact of gossip columns. She expressed, “There have been numerous articles about me that aren’t factual and are downright terrifying.” She further added, “It’s hard to believe my family has to read such fabrications.” Among these falsehoods were speculations about her splitting up with Reynolds, as well as rumors of her pretending to be pregnant earlier in her career. Additionally, there were insinuations that aspects of her relationship with Reynolds are staged by PR teams to present a more ordinary image.
She suffered a serious injury that required two surgeries
In the 2020 action-thriller movie “The Rhythm Section,” Blake Lively portrays Stephanie Patrick, a woman determined to avenge her family following their deaths in a terrorist attack. To accomplish this, she learns combat and espionage skills under Jude Law’s character, Iain Boyd. Performing numerous action scenes for the role led to an injury on Lively’s part when a stunt went awry. In a scene where she and Law were fighting, Lively sustained such a severe hand injury that filming was halted for six months.
As I found myself diving towards Jude Law during a film scene, my rubbery prop knife clashed with his robust elbow – sending shockwaves through me! The impact left me with some broken and dislocated bits, plus a severed ligament. It was an experience that tested my limits!
Lively’s passion project failed spectacularly
Beyond her acting career, Blake Lively has also been actively engaged in various other entrepreneurial endeavors. For instance, she launched the haircare line called Blake Brown and introduced Betty Buzz and Betty Booze drinks, offering non-alcoholic mixers and canned cocktails respectively. However, her initial business venture outside of acting experienced a setback and didn’t succeed as planned before she achieved significant success in business.
In 2014, Blake Lively introduced a lifestyle platform named Preserve. This online marketplace showcased handcrafted and distinctive items from American artisans, personally chosen by Lively. It was a heartfelt endeavor for the celebrity, who aimed to make an impact in people’s lives, be it on a surface or deep level. Unfortunately, Preserve ceased operations about a year later and has not been reactivated since. The reason for its closure stems from Lively launching the site prematurely, before it was fully prepared to cater effectively to its customers.
The highly-visible and ridiculed collapse of Preserve was a significant setback for the high-profile individual, who sincerely wanted to provide people with top-quality items from skilled artisans. “We have an exceptional group of individuals who produce remarkable work,” Lively stated to Vogue following the website’s failure. “However, we released the site before it was fully prepared.” “I never imagined I would possess the courage to do that, to shut down the site and admit, ‘You know what? I haven’t created something as authentic and powerful as I know it can and will be.'”
She’s struggled with imposter syndrome and insecurities
It’s a common assumption that all actors and entertainers are extremely self-assured, not fazed by the spotlight. However, this isn’t always true; some performers struggle with anxiety or nerves about being in public. One such individual is Blake Lively. Despite her family’s involvement in show business, Lively initially harbored no ambitions to join the industry. In an interview with The Independent, she confessed that she felt like she had “deceived” producers when she landed her role in “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.” Moreover, she admitted to being “extremely shy” when not in front of the camera.
Over time, Lively has managed to keep her emotions stable. She’s openly discussed how having children has given her a greater sense of security and self-acceptance. In an interview with Forbes, she expressed that the value of her time became even more significant once she had kids. Additionally, she mentioned that becoming a mother made her feel more comfortable in her own skin, bringing about a sense of peace and confidence. Despite the constant barrage of insecurities, she feels incredibly settled.
She lost her father to cardiac complications in 2021
Blake Lively’s parents played a crucial role in her journey towards a career in entertainment. Her mother Elaine Lively was a talent scout, while her father Ernie Lively was an actor known for roles ranging from “Turner & Hooch” to “The West Wing.” With such a strong connection to the industry, it’s not surprising that Blake Lively followed in their footsteps. In fact, she often joined her parents at acting classes instead of having a babysitter.
Last year in 2021, I was deeply saddened as Blake Lively and her family experienced the heart-wrenching loss of Ernie Lively, my cherished father. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that he passed away at the age of 74, surrounded by his loving wife and children, at their home in Los Angeles. His demise was due to cardiac complications. Earlier, eight years ago, he underwent a groundbreaking heart surgery after health issues were detected. This innovative procedure involved injecting stem cells into his heart to aid tissue repair. The successful operation allowed him to resume a more active life and regain a level of health that I hadn’t seen in him before.
People have gone to extreme lengths to get pictures of her children
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds strive to maintain a low profile when it comes to their personal lives, particularly regarding their four offspring. They’ve been careful to keep the identities and genders of their kids concealed as long as feasible. However, their wish for privacy hasn’t always been granted. Lively has encountered several distressing incidents involving persistent paparazzi who have gone to great lengths to capture photos of her with her children.
In a post that has since been removed from Instagram, Lively expressed her distress over adults surprising and following her with her kids, which she found deeply traumatic for them. As she explained in an interview with Stylist, “Strangers on the street would confront my children because it was unsettling for them to witness.” In another incident, a friend of Reynolds was caught trying to sell private photos of one of their babies, an act that left both Reynolds and his wife utterly shocked. Reflecting on this betrayal in an interview with GQ, Reynolds said, “It was like experiencing a tragic loss – one of those life-shattering events.”
Lively was sexually harassed by a make-up artist
The rampant sexual harassment and misogyny within the entertainment industry has been exposed significantly since producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2022 (16 years in prison). As more allegations surfaced, it became clear that Hollywood was rife with sexual misconduct. The Me Too movement inspired numerous actors to share their stories, with Blake Lively being one example. She disclosed experiencing regular sexual harassment by a makeup artist.
Although she didn’t explicitly mention the project, Blake Lively openly discussed the harassment she faced and revealed that her concerns were disregarded for several months. However, action was finally taken against the offender only after she consulted a lawyer. The misconduct included unwanted physical contact and secretly recording her without consent. “He would make inappropriate comments, persistently applying my lipstick with his finger,” Lively explained to the Los Angeles Times. “One night on set, I woke up to find him filming me. I was dressed, but the act was highly intrusive and extremely frightening.”
Lively and Reynolds had to apologize for their choice of wedding venue
As a history enthusiast who has spent many years studying and visiting plantations that were once home to enslaved people, I find it disheartening when high-profile events take place at such locations without acknowledging their dark past. The marriage of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is one such example. While the couple’s love story may be heartwarming, I can’t help but feel uneasy about the choice to hold their wedding at a place that still has nine slave cabins on its grounds. As someone who values education and understanding of our nation’s history, it seems important for celebrities like Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds to take into account the significance of such locations when planning events. I believe that by choosing alternative venues or using their platform to educate about the history of places like Boone Hall Plantation, they could help foster a more informed and empathetic society.
In 2018, their support for the Black cast of Marvel’s “Black Panther” sparked fresh criticism towards them, following an earlier controversy over their wedding venue choice. Boone Hall Plantation was where they tied the knot in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2020 that Ryan Reynolds admitted they had erred. He explained to Fast Company, “At first, we saw a beautiful wedding venue; later, we saw a place steeped in painful history.” This recognition came after they donated $200,000 to the NAACP legal defense fund and expressed admiration for the organization via Instagram. They also shared that they had renewed their vows in a private ceremony held at their home.
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2024-08-06 14:31