August, often known for its slow news cycle, has become a breeding ground for celebrity drama. This year, the internet is abuzz with speculation about a supposed feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, co-stars of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel *It Ends With Us*. Numerous theories have surfaced, with no clear consensus on the truth behind the alleged rift. One rumor suggests Baldoni body-shamed Lively after her pregnancy, while another claims the pair, who served as director and producer respectively, clashed over creative differences, including the use of a Lana del Rey song in the film. Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, has even been dragged into the mix, with reports that he attempted to contribute a scene to the project.
This intense public scrutiny, fueled by speculation and often reported as fact, has overshadowed the film itself, despite its decent box office performance. The saga echoes the manufactured drama surrounding the 2022 film *Don’t Worry Darling*, where alleged tensions between director Olivia Wilde and star Florence Pugh dominated headlines, leaving the actual movie in the shadows. The internet also seized upon a perceived “spitting incident” between Harry Styles and Chris Pine at the premiere, dubbed #SpitGate, further eclipsing the film’s reception.
This penchant for manufactured conflict is not a new phenomenon. In 2015, the feud between Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron on the set of *Mad Max: Fury Road* became almost as legendary as the film itself. Their reported clash over contrasting working styles, fueled by the intense atmosphere of the shoot, added a layer of intrigue for many viewers. The same could be said for the reported tension between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams on the set of *The Notebook* in 2004.
It seems that on-screen animosity between actors, whether real or manufactured, can be just as captivating, if not more so, than genuine off-screen romances. In fact, this strategy is a well-established practice in Hollywood, dating back to the golden era of the studios.
Legendary MGM head of publicity Howard Strickling understood the power of manufactured feuds, using them to keep his stars relevant, generate press for the studio, and maintain the illusion of Hollywood glamour and backstage drama. “Strickling knew that every feud was an opportunity,” writes Mark Borkowski in his book *The Fame Formula*, “a chance to keep his stars relevant, to keep MGM’s name in the press, and to maintain the illusion that Hollywood was a place of larger-than-life personalities and epic, behind-the-scenes dramas.”
From the legendary rivalry of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, which inspired Ryan Murphy’s series *Feud*, to the reported clashes between Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, manufactured feuds have long been a tool for generating buzz and keeping stars in the public eye.
While today’s celebrities have more control over their public image through social media, they can’t always control the narrative, especially when emotions are involved. This creates a fascinating paradox: while we are often presented with polished, filtered versions of these stars, we’re also drawn to the glimpses of human imperfection and vulnerability that emerge from manufactured or genuine conflict. And, ultimately, in an industry driven by attention, maybe it’s just nice to see that even the biggest stars are human, not just perfect robots repeating the accepted line.
It’s August, after all, and sometimes a little gossipy Hollywood drama is just what we need.
