Blake Lively faced online backlash after her husband, Ryan Reynolds, referred to her upbringing as “working class” during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Reynolds made the comment while discussing how he and the Gossip Girl actress aim to provide a grounded upbringing for their four children despite their fame. He stated, “We both grew up very working class,” and added, “I try not to impose upon my kids the differences in their childhood to my childhood or my wife’s childhood.”
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However, fans quickly challenged this claim, pointing to Lively’s Hollywood roots. Raised in Tarzana, Los Angeles, Lively comes from a family embedded in the entertainment industry—her father, Ernie Lively, was an actor and director, and her mother, Elaine, was a talent manager. Lively began acting at age 10, debuting in Sandman, directed by her father.
Critics labeled Reynolds’ remark “out of touch,” with one commenting, “Her whole family was in the entertainment business… It’s giving at least middle class.” Comparisons were also drawn to Victoria Beckham’s recent controversial claim of a “working class” background in the Beckham documentary.
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The controversy has reignited scrutiny of Lively’s public persona and privileged upbringing, which some argue “undermines her relatability.” Fans also revisited her early career, noting how family connections helped secure her breakout role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants at age 16.