Lively Admitted to ‘Poisoning’ Co-Stars Against Penn Badgley
In a 2009 interview with UK Glamour, Blake Lively admitted she was initially against the casting of Penn Badgley as her co-star in Gossip Girl, going as far as turning fellow cast members against him.
“At first I was so upset that they hired him,” Lively was quoted as saying, according to People Magazine.
“I actually poisoned the whole cast against him. But then they noticed that he wasn’t a jerk and was actually a really nice, charming person. Almost immediately, I realized that too, but it took me about a week to admit it.”
Lively and Badgley, who played on-screen love interests Serena van der Woodsen and Dan Humphrey, also dated off-screen between 2007 and 2010. Their breakup was kept largely private, with Gossip Girl executive producer Joshua Safran later revealing, “They kept the breakup hidden from the crew, which you could never do now. They didn’t want their personal drama to affect the show.”
Creative Differences Sparked Conflict on Film Sets
Resurfaced footage from the 2022 Forbes Power Women’s Summit has also brought attention to Lively’s reported clashes with directors and producers over her desire for more creative input.
“When I was younger, I shaped myself into the version of what I thought they wanted. But I knew that wasn’t fulfilling for me,” Lively said in the interview.
She expressed frustration at being seen merely as an actor rather than a creative force behind projects, stating that while some filmmakers welcomed her contributions, others resented them.
“Sometimes, directors or producers were open to my input, but others felt like it was a rug-pull, like I was asserting myself into something they didn’t hire me to do,” she added.
Viral Interview Clip Fuels Criticism
Amid the renewed focus on Lively’s past controversies, a 2016 interview with Norwegian entertainment reporter Kjersti Flaa has gone viral.
In the resurfaced clip from a Café Society press tour, Flaa congratulated Lively on her pregnancy, saying, “Congrats on your little bump.” Lively quickly replied, “Congrats on your little bump.”
The exchange became awkward when it was revealed that Flaa was not pregnant.
The moment, which recently gained millions of views online, was labeled “The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job” by the reporter.
Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni Adds to Scrutiny
The renewed focus on Lively’s past behavior comes as she remains embroiled in a legal dispute with Justin Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath.
The lawsuit, first filed with the California Civil Rights Department in December and later moved to federal court, includes allegations of harassment, retaliation, and negligence.
FAQs
What is Blake Lively suing Justin Baldoni for?
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and an orchestrated effort to damage her reputation, months after the film’s box office success.
Was Justin Baldoni’s wife in It Ends With Us?
Justin’s wife, Emily who appeared as Dr. Julie in It Ends With Us has not yet publicly addressed her husband’s legal dispute.
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