Ryan Reynolds finds himself under scrutiny after claiming he and Blake Lively grew up "very working class." Fans dispute the statement, pointing to Lively's privileged background. The actor also shares his thoughts on Trump's presidency and its impact on the arts.
- Reynolds' "working class" claim sparks debate
- Fans challenge Lively's "nepo baby" label
- Reynolds discusses Trump's impact on the arts
Reynolds' "Working Class" Claim Sparks Debate
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have ignited a social media firestorm following Reynolds' recent interview where he described both of them as having a "working class" upbringing. This comment, made during a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, has not sat well with fans.
Reynolds explained that he and Lively strive to provide a normal life for their children, James, Inez, Betty, and Olin, despite their celebrity status.
He stated, "We try to give them as normal a life as possible. I try not to impose upon them the difference in their childhood to my childhood or my wife's childhood." However, his remarks have been met with skepticism, especially regarding Lively's background.
He continued, "We both grew up very working class, and I remember when they were very young, I used to say or think, like, 'Oh God, I would never have had a gift like this when I was a kid,' or, 'I never would've had this luxury of getting takeout,' or whatever."
The backlash against Reynolds' comments largely stems from Lively's perceived privileged upbringing. Many fans argue that Lively, who made her acting debut at age 10, has always been part of the entertainment industry.
"What does 'working class' even mean these days? Is it supposed to be a polite way of saying poor?" an X user quizzed.
Another user said, "Reynolds may have come from modest means, but lively definitely isn't... She has been acting as a child. There was a silver spoon down her throat all along."
"Quick search: She grew up in Tarzana and then went to Burbank High. Her whole family was in the entertainment business," one Instagram user penned. "She was cast in Sisterhood for the Traveling Pants while she was a teen. It's giving at least middle class. Anyway, none of that matters bc she's rich and insufferable now. Bye."
Her father, Ernie Lively, was a well-known actor and director, while her mother, Elaine Lively, worked as an actress and talent manager.
Her whole family was in the entertainment business." Lively herself has acknowledged her early exposure to show business, saying, "The day I was born, when I came home from the hospital, I literally didn't go to my house. I went to my sister's set."
In the same interview, Reynolds addressed the political climate in the U.S. and whether he and Lively had considered moving to Canada, his homeland, following Donald Trump's election. He dismissed the idea, affirming his love for New York. However, Reynolds expressed concern about Trump's administration potentially stifling artistic expression.
"I worry about any art form where a majority of the demographic of folks involved with that art form didn't necessarily vote for the current administration," he said. Reynolds emphasized the dangers of censorship, noting, "The thought of the entire business — film, television, any of it — experiencing any form of censorship is frightening and should be frightening.
At the same time, Ryan looks ahead.
Also interesting:
2017 Golden Globes
Viral Kiss: Ryan Reynolds & Andrew Garfield Open Up About Infamous Moment
This is their fourth child
Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds: Meet Baby Olin’s Famous Godfather
"I don’t pretend to be an inventor or an entrepreneur or any of those things. But I’m a storyteller and can wear different hats. I can be a salesman, I can be an accountant, any number of things. But it’s all creating emotional investment," he says.
"If you can create emotional investment in anything, any brand, it creates a moat around that brand that really, I think, facilitates resilience and allows it to weather the storms in bad times. And yes, that’s the part I love."
