Blake Lively’s past comments about her time working with Penn Badgley on Gossip Girl have resurfaced amid her ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath. In a 2009 interview with UK Glamour, Lively shared that she initially opposed Badgley’s casting as her on-screen love interest, Dan Humphrey. She confessed, “At first, I was so upset that they hired him. I actually poisoned the whole cast against him.” However, she later acknowledged her mistake, realizing that Badgley was “a really nice, charming person” and quickly warming up to him, even if it took a week to admit it.
Lively and Badgley’s off-screen relationship also played a part in their dynamic. The two dated for three years, from 2007 to 2010, but their breakup was kept private. Gossip Girl’s executive producer Joshua Safran later revealed that they worked hard to keep their personal lives separate from the show, not allowing their breakup to affect the production.
In addition to these revelations, attention has turned to Lively’s professional experiences. During a 2022 interview at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit, Lively expressed frustrations with being seen only as an actress, not as a creative contributor. She admitted that early in her career, she “shaped herself into the version of what I thought they wanted,” but it ultimately wasn’t fulfilling. She shared that while some directors and producers welcomed her input, others resented it, viewing it as overstepping.
This comes in the midst of her legal battle with Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath, which includes allegations of harassment, retaliation, and negligence. As the case continues in federal court, Lively’s past comments and controversies are once again making headlines, adding more complexity to the ongoing situation.