Critics Call Blake Lively’s Recent Outing a ‘PR Stunt’
Blake Lively is getting back out into the world after a turbulent two years that strained her friendships and her public image. On Nov. 3, she stepped out for jewelry designer Brent Neale’s holiday capsule collection launch in Manhattan. The appearance was reportedly her first official event since she split from longtime publicist Leslie Sloane in September. Now critics are calling Blake Lively’s outing a “PR stunt.”
Critics call Blake Lively’s recent outing a ‘PR stunt’
Blake Lively’s appearance at the event turned out to be big news, but not the PR she was probably looking for. That’s not surprising: Since her legal drama with Justin Baldoni, nearly every move she makes has been scrutinized. Still, the launch party drew more backlash than one might have expected.
Photos from the evening spread quickly across social media, and reactions were mixed. Many critics suggested the appearance and photos were staged. Under Page Six’s Instagram post, one commenter asked, “Does anybody fall for these overused PR stunts anymore? What’s the point?” Another suggested Lively’s new PR team might need to put in some extra hours, a nod to her decision to part ways with her longtime publicist after the lawsuit.
Other commenters took aim at the women she arrived with, questioning whether they were really her friends. There is no evidence the event was arranged as a publicity stunt, and neither Lively nor her representatives have addressed the speculation.
Not the first time
This isn’t the first time the motives behind Blake Lively’s public appearances have been questioned. In June, she and husband Ryan Reynolds faced similar accusations after a heavily photographed day out in New York. Perez Hilton joked that their bodyguard had stayed out of frame so the paparazzi could get clean shots of the “staged outing,” though none of the critics offered evidence it was planned.
In 2025, a visit to a Connecticut doughnut shop drew the same charge, with podcaster Zack Peter calling it an “I’m a down to earth; everyday gal” PR stunt. Photos of Lively and Reynolds in upstate New York also raised eyebrows in July. They were snapped at their daughter Betty’s horse show in Lake Placid the same weekend Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden. The photos fueled reports that Lively, once one of Swift’s closest friends, wasn’t invited to the wedding. Neither star has addressed it publicly.
What comes next?
Lively is moving forward despite the online skepticism. Her next big-screen role is The Survival List, an action rom-com from Lionsgate that she’ll both star in and produce. She has other projects in the works, too: Lively is also lined up to direct Seconds, an adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel.
Her legal battle with Baldoni is officially over, freeing her to focus on work, and that appears to be the plan. Still, it will take time for her to fully shake off the worst PR nightmare of her career.
