The reporter at the center of a media storm over her resurfaced interview with Blake Lively has spoken to Newsweek about her ordeal.
Norwegian-born journalist Kjersti Flaa fears being "blacklisted" by some in Hollywood after she shared an interview she did with Lively in 2016 which has since gone viral. Flaa posted the interview on YouTube on August 10 as the actor started receiving backlash during her promotional campaign for her latest film, It Ends With Us.
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Flaa opened up on the response to her video and fears for her career.
"It's been pretty overwhelming actually. I received so much support from people [and] also people in the industry who told me about similar experiences they have had working with celebrities," Flaa said. "I have been surprised by the kindness people have shown me. I never expected anything like that."
Newsweek contacted Lively's representatives by email for comment.
Lively has come under fire for her promotion of the film, It Ends With Us, which is based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name. The story is about a married woman experiencing intimate partner violence in her relationship.
The actor has received criticism from those who believe she started out marketing the movie more as a "girls' night out flick" instead of reflecting its serious subject. The star was slammed for using the film's marketing run to promote her various businesses, including her new haircare line Blake Brown and her liquor brand Betty Booze.
Flaa's interaction with Lively in 2016 came as the actor was promoting the Woody Allen film Cafe Society with co-star Parker Posey. Lively had recently revealed she was pregnant with her second child with husband Ryan Reynolds.
The veteran entertainment reporter who has interviewed a range of Hollywood stars congratulated Lively on her "little bump." The actress replied by congratulating Flaa on her "little bump," even though Flaa was not pregnant. Posey then shared her thoughts by referring to her own buttocks and breasts as "bumps," as Lively looked on amused.
Lively derided Flaa for questions about the period costumes she wore in the movie, set in the 1930s, asking if she would put the same question to her male co-stars to which the reporter replied, "I would."
Flaa recently shared her interview with Lively on social media where it quickly went viral and made headlines around the world. Despite the attention it has received, however, Flaa said she has not heard anything from the actress or her team. "I don't think they will," she said.
While the reporter does not have any regrets about sharing the video, at least "not yet," she stands by her decision.
"I was nervous putting it out, but I am glad that I did. I think it's important to call out bad behavior. Maybe it can prevent it from happening again. That would be great," she told Newsweek, but said she feared for her career.
"I think I will be blacklisted by some people in the industry. That's for sure," Flaa said, admitting her experience with Lively changed how she approached working with celebrities.
"It did for a while because it made me so nervous, but it's been some years now and I got my confidence back."
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