Blake Lively Posts Apology About Photoshopped Ad Following Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis

Blake Lively in The Age of Adaline
(Image credit: Lionsgate Films)

Following weeks of online speculation, jokes and conspiracy theories, Kate Middleton made a public statement and revealed her cancer diagnosis. Before her statement, many had been poking fun at the fact that we hadn't seen her in a long time, and following the release of an altered family photo, many more started commenting on the situation and joking about it. This included Blake Lively, who posted an ad about a week before Middleton's statement came out for her company that was terribly Photoshopped. Now, the Gossip Girl alum has apologized for the advertisement. 

Saying she felt "mortified" and "sorry," Blake Lively took to her Instagram stories to address her Betty Buzz ad from last week that was edited poorly and seemed to make fun of the Kate Middleton family photo:

Blake Lively's apology for her photoshopped ad.

(Image credit: Blake Lively's Instagram)

Blake Lively's apology comes a few hours after Kate Middleton posted a video announcing that she had been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer was found after the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery, and she said that her family has been "doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family." 

Before this statement, many wondered where Kate Middleton was, while rumors and theories were flying left and right. She allegedly made her first public appearance a few days ago, however, this video was the major thing that clarified where she's been. 

Over the last couple of weeks, before knowing about the diagnosis, people on the internet were making fun of this whole situation. Things really ramped up when a family photo was posted, and it appeared to be doctored in Photoshop. Taking to X to address the image, the Princess of Wales said she would "occasionally experiment with editing," and she apologized for the photo. 

Not long after that photo went viral, Blake Lively posted an ad for her brand Betty Buzz that featured her and some lemons, and elements of the photo were clearly poorly edited in post. The caption seemingly nodded at the situation with Kate Middleton, as the actress wrote:

I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today to announce our 4 new @bettybuzz & @bettybooze products! Now you know why I’ve been MIA.

Now, the image has been deleted from Instagram, and as you can see above, Lively issued a formal apology. While she never said the Princess of Wales' name, the timing of both the ad and this statement allude to the fact that it was related to it. 

Of course, Blake Lively is known for trolling her husband Ryan Reynolds online and advertising her companies in funny and cheeky ways. However, many of the comments on the Photoshop post at the time were negative, saying it wasn't funny. Now, The Age of Adaline star has taken the post down and formally apologized for it.

As this situation develops, we'll be sure to keep you posted. 

Riley Utley
Weekend Editor

Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to Fire Country, and she's enjoyed every second of it.