Amid Drama Over Her Latest Film, Relatives Defend Blake Lively

Blake Lively’s brother-in-law has stepped into the spotlight to defend her amidst swirling drama related to her latest film, “It Ends with Us.” Bart Johnson, known for his role in “High School Musical” as Troy Bolton’s father, cryptically addressed speculations of a feud between Lively and her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, during a tribute to Lively’s 37th birthday.

Johnson, who is married to Blake Lively’s half-sister, Robyn Lively—famous for her role in “Teen Witch”—responded to a critical comment that accused Blake of insensitivity. The user lamented that it was disappointing to see Lively promoting happiness in a film centered around domestic violence, without regard for the victims.

In a heartfelt response, Johnson expressed regret that the user felt this way and assured them that the complete truth had yet to surface. He emphasized that Blake had poured more effort into this film than anything else he had witnessed in her career, highlighting the personal significance it held for her. Johnson credited Lively as the driving force behind the film’s message reaching audiences. While he acknowledged that mistakes were made during production, he reminded everyone that human errors are inevitable and often scrutinized under a public microscope.

Despite the controversy, Justin Baldoni has been lauded for addressing the grave themes of domestic violence within the film. Conversely, Lively has faced significant backlash for her perceived lighthearted and “tone-deaf” promotion of the drama, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name. Adding to the turmoil, there is speculation that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, used their star power to wrest control of the production from Baldoni. This power struggle reportedly resulted in two different cuts of the film, as confirmed by inside sources to The Hollywood Reporter.

Justin Theroux Engaged to Actor Nicole Brydon Bloom

In happier news, actor Justin Theroux is reportedly engaged once again, this time to fellow actor Nicole Brydon Bloom. The 53-year-old “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” star proposed in Italy during the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where he is promoting his latest movie. Bloom, 30, accepted his proposal.

While the details of their initial meeting remain unclear, they were first seen together at a Netflix event in New York in February 2023. By summer, they were publicly photographed sharing affectionate moments. Bloom has recently appeared in HBO Max’s “The Gilded Age” and the Hulu miniseries “We Were the Lucky Ones.” In “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Theroux plays a manipulative manager and love interest of Lydia Deetz (portrayed by Winona Ryder), exploiting their relationship for personal gain.

Representatives for Theroux and Bloom did not respond immediately to requests for confirmation. This engagement marks Theroux’s second; he was previously married to Jennifer Aniston. The pair met while filming “Wanderlust” in 2010, became engaged in 2012, and had a surprise backyard wedding in August 2015. They separated in late 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2018 but have remained friends since.

Trump Film ‘The Apprentice’ to Premiere Before Election

NEW YORK — The film “The Apprentice,” starring Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump, has found a distributor following its lukewarm reception at the Cannes Film Festival. Briarcliff Entertainment plans to release the film on October 11 in U.S. and Canadian theaters, just weeks before the November 5 election.

Director Ali Abbasi, a Danish-Iranian filmmaker, prioritized releasing “The Apprentice” before voters head to the polls. Despite larger studios passing on the film, Abbasi voiced frustration on social media in early June, suggesting that certain influential figures were obstructing its release.

Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign, criticized the film’s release timing as an attempt at election interference by Hollywood elites. He dismissed the film as “malicious defamation,” undeserving of even a bargain bin spot at a closing discount movie store.

Interest in “The Apprentice” waned partly due to potential legal threats. Following its premiere at Cannes in May, Cheung labeled the movie “pure fiction” and announced intentions to pursue legal action against what he described as false assertions by the filmmakers.

— From Wire Reports