Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: Journalist Kjersti Flaa Caught in the Crossfire

The drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has taken a surprising turn, with Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa becoming an unlikely casualty amid dueling lawsuits involving harassment and defamation.

Flaa, 51, found herself at the center of the storm in August after posting a viral video of an awkward 2016 interview with Lively. The interview, which took place during a press junket for Café Society, featured Lively reacting sharply when Flaa congratulated her on her "little bump"—assuming Lively was pregnant. The actress, visibly annoyed, responded, "Congrats on your little bump." The incident was briefly forgotten until Flaa shared it online in August 2024, just as It Ends With Us, a movie directed by and starring Baldoni, hit theaters.

Flaa, who has spent much of her career in Hollywood’s entertainment press, explained she posted the video following a conversation with a colleague about censorship in Hollywood. She had initially been too fearful to release it, worried it might damage her career. But with fewer in-person interviews since the pandemic, Flaa decided to revisit the footage.

The video quickly went viral, amassing over 6 million views and fueling online outrage. Lively faced backlash for seeming tone-deaf, with critics accusing her of diminishing the movie's serious theme of domestic abuse by marketing it lightheartedly. Many used Flaa’s video as proof of Lively’s insensitivity.

In response, Lively accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. She filed a lawsuit, claiming they sought to discredit her after she raised allegations of misconduct on the It Ends With Us set. This led to an explosive New York Times investigation, which suggested a coordinated effort to tarnish her reputation. The article detailed text messages that allegedly painted Baldoni and others in a negative light. Baldoni’s legal team rejected the report, arguing the texts had been selectively edited.

Flaa, however, denies any involvement with Baldoni’s team, stating she shared the video purely on her own initiative. “At no point did anyone contact me from his team or from Blake’s team,” she said. Despite the backlash she faced, Flaa maintains that Lively's behavior in the interview led to the public's reaction, not any external influence.

Adding to the tension, Baldoni filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the publication of spreading a biased narrative based on incomplete evidence. The Times, standing by its reporting, defended its integrity, stating the article was based on thorough investigation and extensive documentation.

Flaa expressed frustration with how her video has been weaponized in the ongoing feud, feeling that both Lively and Baldoni's powerful teams are using her as a pawn. “It’s just more evidence of how dirty the games in Hollywood can be,” she remarked. Despite the drama, she insists her intent was never to harm Lively, but rather to highlight how some celebrities treat journalists.

While Flaa’s career has faced challenges, she’s also gained attention for her YouTube channel, where she posts commentary and awkward celebrity interviews. Her subscriber count has grown significantly since sharing the Lively video, and she’s begun building a loyal following. “I now have this community of people out there that really appreciate what I’m doing,” she said, reflecting on the positive side of the experience.

As the legal battles unfold, Flaa remains caught in the middle, unsure who to side with, but determined to share her perspective. “I don’t want anyone to get hate,” she added. “That was never my intention.”