Meghan McCain has joined the discourse surrounding “It Ends With Us” star Blake Lively.
The conservative political commentator argued Wednesday on her “Citizen McCain” podcast that Lively, who seemed to dismiss the central theme of domestic violence in her film in a recent viral interview, delivered an “insensitive” press tour — and should do better.
“If you’re taking on the responsibility of telling the story about a woman who is in a domestic violence situation, you have to be respectful that you’re representing victims, millions and millions of women and men who are victims of domestic violence,” McCain explained.
Lively produced the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, which centers on a flower shop owner named Lily Blossom Bloom escaping a cycle of domestic violence. But fans noticed she spent much of the film’s press tour promoting her beverage company and hair care line.
“I think the tone she’s setting in a lot of the press with this, like saying, ‘Put on your florals and come together, girls!’” McCain said Wednesday, adding: “I don’t want to put florals on and go with my girlfriends and go watch a fun girl movie about domestic violence.”
“I think that’s very insensitive and very, quite frankly, strange,” she continued.
Lively has urged audiences to “grab your florals” and see the film in a viral TikTok video, and was also excoriated on social media for her flippant answer when reporter Jake Hamilton asked what she’d tell a fan who wanted to share their experience after seeing the movie.
“Like, asking for my address, or my phone number, or, like, location share? I could just location share!” Lively responded in the controversial interview earlier this month. “I’m a Virgo, so like, are we talking logistics, are we talking emotionally?”
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
McCain said she “was very surprised” by the bizarre press run, which has not only spawned enormous backlash but a reassessment of Lively’s past behavior as well, and noted that she’s had her own experience with domestic violence after helping a friend escape it.
Representatives for Lively did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
McCain suggested that celebrities receive media training for situations like this, especially for an actor like Lively who is coming from a “privileged situation.”
“You’re like a beautiful, blond white woman who’s married to a famous actor, you’re both billionaires, you have to understand these are different times,” she said. “I think some humility and some research on what you’re representing would be prudent.”
McCain admitted, however, that she harbors some bias against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
“I’m also just fucking sick of hearing about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively,” she said on the podcast. “I’m sick of hearing about them, and I think that’s a dangerous spot for any celebrity.”
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.