In September of 2018, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively released the film “A Simple Favor”. The film was an overwhelming hit, receiving 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was renewed for a second movie, which was released on May 1. Despite the success of the first movie, the notable cast and entertaining plot, the movie is currently failing in reviews.
The backlash against the movie has had little to do with the plot and content itself. Instead, the recent Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni controversy has sparked an attempted “cancelation” of Lively. Over the summer of 2024, the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us” was released. Throughout the press tour of the movie, fans became suspicious of possible disputes between lead actors Lively and Baldoni.
Naturally, fans chose sides, and many took Baldoni’s. Despite Lively’s claims and evidence of harassment, fans believed her statements were fabricated and a cover up for her own actions. Hence, many tried to “cancel” her career. “I had read into and taken my own view on the whole situation and I did believe Lively was in the wrong. I totally agree with the cancelation efforts and I don’t understand why it hasn’t quite stuck,” sophomore Addy Kramer said.
In spite of the cancellation efforts, Lively has continued to receive acting gigs. While her career hasn’t been successfully ended, the slowing of success in her career is notable. For a typical Hollywood actress or celebrity, the allegations against her and the “cancellation” efforts would have more than likely ended her career.
The difference between Lively’s situation and the typical media star’s cancellation is Lively’s status as an “American Sweetheart”. Lively began her acting career in 1998 at the age of ten. Since then, her career has only taken off, starring in blockbuster movies such as Green Lantern, The Age of Adaline and many more. Due to her extended establishment in the movie industry, many news outlets and social media sources are hesitant to cancel her for good.
Many fans find her continued presence in Hollywood among the allegations and lawsuits unfair. “When other celebrities careers would have already been successfully ended automatically I think it is rather unjust that Lively has continued to get acting gigs and somehow still had continued success,” Kramer said.
While she has not been officially proven guilty in a court of law to any of the allegations against her, the ease of the cancellation against other celebrities compared to Lively clearly demonstrates the value of being viewed as an “American Sweetheart”. “When I think of an “American Sweetheart” Blake Lively is certainly one of the first ones that comes to mind. My whole life I feel like she has always been on a screen in some way shape or form but I don’t think that means she should be exempt from consequences of her actions,” senior Reese Winslow said.
The underwhelming success of Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick’s new film may be an indication of newfound success towards breaking down Lively’s positive media portrayal — something that would have likely been successfully executed against any other celebrity.
