Blake Lively is creating box-office history with It Ends With Us- all while having the love of her life, Ryan Reynolds, by her side. This power couple has taken over the theaters by rolling out two of the most talked-about movies of the weekend. While Reynolds has joined the billion-dollar club with Deadpool & Wolverine, Blake Lively dethroned the MCU movie from its #1 position. Together, they created a record as the married couple with the top two films in theaters, a feat the industry has not seen in the last three decades. 

Despite the incredible business of the film, Blake Lively has now landed some heated criticism from fans of the It Ends With Us book.

Trigger Warning: Has mentions of themes that can be disturbing for some. User discretion is advised.

It Ends With Us at its core is a book about the heavy and sensitive issue of domestic violence. However, the film’s promotion has not exactly hit the right note when it comes to matching this sensitivity. The marketing campaign came off as a goofy rom-com, and, of course, the floral emphasis cannot be overlooked. Fans say that Blake Lively, who is also producing the film, has turned the promotional tour for this serious drama into a showcase for her fashion credentials and her and Ryan Reynolds' power couple status.

Blake Lively also integrated Ryan Reynolds into the production process, having him not only contribute to the script but also partake in offbeat interviews. Fans, however, saw this as a detour from the movie’s original intent and Justin Baldoni’s message. There is even talk that the rumored beef between Lively and Baldoni might have been fueled by the Barbie-esque PR approach for the movie.

Amidst ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Dethroning Dreams, Blake Lively’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Fails to Impress Audience

The sharp contrast between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s promotional styles for It Ends With Us further adds to this speculation. 

A huge portion of the press tour for It Ends With Us has been about Blake Lively’s ethereal floral costumes, and the rest was about the crossovers. Whether it was the obvious mashup of Deadpool & Wolverine with It Ends With Us, or Lively plugging her personal ventures, including her new hairline- the marketing from Lively’s end has been more about her brand than the movie.

In contrast, Justin Baldoni’s promotion of It Ends With Us has been more sincere. He teamed up with No More, an anti-domestic abuse nonprofit, and collaborated with them on depicting violence in the film. Baldoni also tagged them in numerous posts. His press appearances have centered exclusively on the themes of abuse and fighting this social evil. This may be why, despite the film’s success, Lively has not exactly been showered with praise for her approach to It Ends With Us.

Blake Lively’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Is Currently Making Bigger Waves Than Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Deadpool’ in the UK

What do you think about the criticism Blake Lively is receiving? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!