Additional Coverage:
- The Internet Slams Blake Lively As ‘Tone Deaf’ After She Was Given A Spot In The 2025 ‘TIME100’ List: ‘What A Joke’ (shefinds.com)
Blake Lively’s Inclusion on TIME100 List Sparks Online Backlash
Actress Blake Lively’s recent recognition as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2025 has ignited controversy online. While the annual list includes prominent figures from various fields, Lively’s inclusion has drawn criticism due to ongoing legal battles and past actions.
TIME highlighted Lively’s philanthropic efforts, with a blurb by lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill praising her and husband Ryan Reynolds’s substantial 2019 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Ifill emphasized Lively’s dedication to choosing the right causes, stating, “The Blake Lively I know is a philanthropist.”
However, many online users remain critical of Lively’s past actions. Her legal dispute with former director and co-star Justin Baldoni, stemming from their work on It Ends With Us, continues to fuel negative public sentiment. Additionally, the couple’s 2012 wedding at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina has drawn renewed criticism, given the venue’s history of slavery.
Social media platforms, particularly X, have seen a surge of negative comments. Users have labeled Lively “tone-deaf” and questioned TIME‘s decision, with some calling her inclusion “ridiculous” and a “joke.”
One user commented, “Two things can be true at the same time. You can do good for others but still be horrible to one or more people outside of the good works.”
The backlash underscores the complex and often conflicting public perceptions of celebrities and their influence.