The Marketing Bestie Podcast with zoeunlimited - If “what about me” syndrome was a business

Episode Date: August 29, 2025

✍🏻ALL RESOURCES https://tapx.it/stanzoeunlimitedThe Business Cost of Attention-Seeking : A Branding AnalysisHow did Blake Lively go from America’s sweetheart to one of the most hated woman in Hollywood?Real confidence comes from within 🩷👉🏻For a limited time, use ZOE50 for 50% off sitewide on Parade- with NO minimum purchase!!! https://yourparade.com/ZOE50 (80% off sale items excluded)👉🏻CHOOSE future topics through free email list https://tapthe.link/WDLnjLJy1 ✨Start your dream brand TODAY with a FREE shopify trial https://tapthe.link/zoeunlimitedshopifyJoin me as an editor of the unlimited squad!! 💜https://forms.gle/dzGQxnW6y4ws7dfX6Thank you Parade for sponsoring!Subscribe to learn how to build a brand.Learn & Grow with me.💖 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeunlimited/💜 TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@zoeunlimited🖤 Listen on audio: http://apple.co/zoeunlimited🪭 All my outfits https://www.shopltk.com/explore/zoeunlimited👩🏻‍💻 LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/zoeunlimited🛒 Essentials https://www.amazon.com/shop/zoeunlimited📧 Business inquiries: [e-mail]

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People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. How did Blake lively go from America's sweetheart to one of the most hated women on the internet and single-handedly destroy four brands in one month? What has been the best part in making this particular movie? I've noticed so many beautiful crystals on tea.

Everything was really challenging with like... Yeah, I'm... Oh, look at me. Um, compliment me. Tell me my hair looks beautiful. Before we get started, let me just say, congrats on your little bump. Congrats on your little bump. Yeah. Everyone knows blondes are nicer anyway.

Oh, over there. A moment by me. If there was one person born to be liked, it must be Blake Lively. You know her. She's Serena VanderWitson, one of Hollywood's most famously beautiful a blonde's, an entrepreneur now with a hair, an alcohol brand, and even a producer who promoted a film about domestic violence as the second Barbie movie. It ends with us, is in theaters now, so grab your friends, wear your florals. Quote, there are so many reasons to love Blake Lively.

Not only does she have the cutest family, but she's such a sweet person on camera and interviews, it's pretty hard to not love her. First of all, congrats on your little bump. Congrats on your little bump. Everyone has an off day, but somehow for Blake Lively, there is a way to single-handedly destroy not just one, but four brands in a month. Puts not only her own career, but a whole cast and cruise careers in jeopardy. And go from America Sweetheart to one of the most hated out-of-touch celebrities on the internet.

What does that mean? That's the mystery we will uncover today. Blake Lively could not be more toned up. But not only that, as your marketing bestie, who graduated top 1% UCLA business economics, with a background in marketing, we're going to explore again how pretty privilege can still fail you if you have a terrible brand.

And by brand, I don't just mean slapping your name on a shampoo bottle. Branding is about how your future college, future boss, future boyfriend sees you. And I'm creating this series to analyze pop culture influences from a marketing marketing perspective because many of whom are so tone-deaf and out of touch that they do not recognize the power of influence they have over a generation of young girls. As a woman. Oh, as a woman. As a woman. Yeah, would you ask that to a man?

Would you? God, she's still here? Yes, I am still here, even though you're not looking at me. Okay. What do you want people to get out of this movie going experience? They should buy a ticket, obviously, and they should see my movie, and then after that they can scurry out of the theater. go to the next one over and then see my husband's movie. Yeah, how about that?

And then when they get home, they can buy my hair care products. Okay, I just, I guess I thought because this movie is about bring your florals. Yeah, it'll be so fun. And I think it's so important to be aware of and reflective of the people who are shaping our culture. That's what I'm saying. His wardrobe was beautiful. I know. Corey's wardrobe was, of course, those high-wasted pants.

He's so great. I wish men more high-wasted pants like that still. I know. Me too. their father with his tank top in it. Oh, it's so good. It's just like that. You could feel it.

Did you catch the tablecloth on the light in the Italian restaurant and the spaghetti? I didn't notice that. No. So can the internet ever fall back in love with Blake Lively again? After she crumbled, not only her personal brand, her hair care, her alcohol, and the brand of It Ends With Us Movie and Franchise, find out as we dive into how the downfall of Blake Lively is the cautionary tale of the the end of an era of celebrity culture. And how the Zykeyes no longer tolerates tone deaf,

What About Me's Syndrome. Welcome back, Queen Serena. You guys, I'm doing an interview. Hi, I'm doing an interview though. I'll come say hi after. Hi, I know, but I'm doing an interview. I'll come talk after, I will. First, we need to understand why everybody loved Blake Lively

before this branding crisis. Blake Lively was the embodiment of the main character. She's a woman a multitude. She's an entrepreneur. a shopowner, an artist, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a lover. Iconically known as the gossip girl that define our girlhood, main character in multiple well-known movies, good friends with Taylor Swift, in fact, even directed her music video.

I bet you think about me. Married to actor Ryan Reynolds and is known as one of the most liked and least problematic couples of Hollywood. Wow. What an unproblematic family-friendly brand. The embodiment of looks, talent, friendship, family, and love. and it was a strong brand that lasted for 17 years. I wonder what could go so wrong to destroy this?

Well, everything. From coming off as romanticizing domestic violence to tone-deaf PR stunts, to flippant and disrespectful interview behaviors, to untastefully promoting her alcohol brand, to launching a new brand in the most tone-deaf way. Underneath the kind, unproblematic brand of Blake Lively, there was always a tiny problem. Growing up in lead roles, Blake lively was playing the main character for so long

that she does not know how to play any other roles in life. Supporting character? What is that? Thus, she created an echo chamber for herself and completely lost touch with the surrounding. Lily bloom is, oh look at me in flowers, Lily Bloom. It was only a matter of time that all the years of the What About Me Syndrome pieced together to form a new brand. Cracking open the flawless and beautiful image. The first dominole of the fall began with,

It Ends With Us. A novel by Colleen Hoover that despite its pretty cover and Wikipedia claiming that it is a romance novel, is a horrifically dark book that goes over a florist experience with repeated physical and emotional abuse and generational trauma. That just by reading the summary gave me chills. It's not some light, giggly teenage romance where everyone lives happily ever after and the biggest problem is not being able to get a custom pair of lebutons in time,

which somehow ended up being the vibe of the highly anticipated it ends with us film. Where from the press tour to the costume design, under Blake Lively's direction, packaged a dark story about abuse into a cutesy little rom-com as her personal narcissism project and fashion show. When this dress was available, I was like, yes, I need it. Quote, grab your friends, wear your florals, and have a lovely time watching women suffer through domestic abuse. And it ends with us is in theaters now.

So grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it. Ooh, grab your close friends and wear your cotton dress. If this was only half of the tone-deaf things Blake lively did, we will not be calling it a branding crisis. Let us go through the back-to-back-to-back to back to back to back-to-back incidents that killed the personal brand of Blake Lively, her physical brands, and the brand of the movie franchise. And yes, it gets worse and worse, as you'll see till the end. The press tour of the movie was a total disaster. First, the fashion, which relies on the foundation of good underwear, and that's where our sponsor, Genzi's favorite parade, comes in.

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50% off site-wide, no minimum purchase. Definitely take advantage of this limited time offer. Now about the fashion of it ends with us. Oh my gosh, thank you so much. That's so sweet. I'm gonna put it here because it isn't with my outfit but I will wear it later. Thanks to Blake's effort to stay the main character, it became the Barbie 2 press tour. If you were to take a look at all these photos, you think that Blake is dressed for a cutesy soiree or a rom-com movie that made people walking into the movie shocked

and in tears by the domestic violence. For Blake, the press tour is nothing more than a fashion show to show off her good taste and fashion. A scene in her Instagram post, Their butt is like that is like shiny kills me. Ponytail out of the butt is crazy. Caption, quote, The shoes and shooleys

shiny butt. Why is that the butt? I'm gonna be sad when marketing is over and I don't have any excuses to sit on my couch dressed up with you ladies playing at Tabletopics Inc. Heart. XOXO Cookie Face. Okay, I get that to stay on theme to the floors in the plot. It makes sense for her to wear something floral. But it weren't the things that she said on the press tour that left people in shock. Whenever the interviewer asked something, not about her, but about the movie, domestic violence. How would you recommend they go about it? Like asking for like my address or my phone number or like my location share?

I could just location share you. Blake's response is either sarcastic or completely dodges the question. What has been the best part in making this particular movie? Um, I've noticed so many beautiful crystals on tea. It's almost as if if there's anything in the film that does not pertain to her, her hair and alcohol brands I would dive deeper into. Or her husband. She doesn't know how or care. to answer. Why is Deadpool Wolverine sold out? I'm sorry. I got distracted back there.

This is Brittany's Versace dress, 2002, the butterfly dress. Almost dressed meant so much to me. Oh my god, my husband's getting soaking wet in the rain. And while we're talking about fashion, it makes zero sense for the plot. That an everyday Boston girl is wearing custom lebuton and givanchi, which not a surprise was specifically under Blake Lively's creative control as the executive producer. Quote, it ends with us costume designer and Eric Damon on the film's best looks and taking advantage of Blake Lively's incredible closet. Quote, as Eric Damon said, she wanted to bring in her own things. And yes, it really did become Blake's fashion show.

But not only is it going to be her own fashion show, it was also going to be her own alcohol and hair commercial. As I mentioned earlier, Blake Lively is not only an actress, director, but also entrepreneur. but one who lacks marketing fundamentals. Not only does she very untastefully use the movie to promote her alcohol brand by hosting this cutesy alcohol party with specialty drinks, such as rio you wait and it ends with buzz. Ryo being the user of the story,

just because you have a brand does not necessarily mean it's a wonderful idea to promote it at every single chance possible. If the movie was about college parties, then yeah, that might make sense. But the movie is about domestic violence and alcohol increases the likelihood of assault at least six times. The tone deafness just completely left so many in shock. On top of which, from a branding angle,

what was the brand Blake Lively that she's been capitalizing on? Her sweet family-friendly image. In a 2012 conversation with the Lior, Lively even said that she does not drink and has never tried drugs. So, not exactly sure why she decided to be like every other celebrity, like Kendall, Kylie, Kate Hudson, launching an alcohol brand. At least Kendall Jenner is known for her partying. For a non-drinker Blake lively, this all just seems too much of a cash grab.

Even though she claims that she was, quote, inspired to create the spiked sellers because she so often makes beverages for her friends and family. It's just pretty off brand. Quote, another cash wrap from a celebrity over a liquor brand and this one doesn't even drink. But the least you could do is to not promote it with domestic violence. So the highly curated family-friendly brand was out the window. As if it could not get worse, entrepreneur Blake Lively timed the launch of her hair brand with the launch of the movie. There's more to life than finding the perfect car. But finding the perfect car can help you get the most.

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ever thought that maybe, just maybe. You see a movie about domestic violence to sell stuff. It's not a good look. Whether or not they make your hair shiny and voluminous. This is the new It Ends With Us palette. My favorite shade is brave blush. It's the exact same shade as when you're getting punched. It included so many pigments of colors. There's black eye purple, bruised up blue. If you buy this palette now, you'll receive a free lipstick in the color bloody lip boo-boo.

20% of the money goes to me and Ryan, I mean to the victims. Is it possible that the launch is just coincidentally lined up? Yes, but honey, if you really spent seven years developing line, is it convincing to the world that the launch of your brand just spontaneously lined up? up with the launch and premiere of your film that you were in, that you knew will be in theaters. On top of which, why did it take seven years to develop a shi-product? Let me just tell you this is some of the worst products that I have ever used on my hair. Quote, my hair has never felt so unhealthy my entire life.

All of the curls are gone, but for some reason my hair feels like straw. It's at the ends, it's at the top, it's all of it. like it feels like my hair has never had moisture in my entire life. Genuinely, I hope my hair goes back to normal. And it's not just coming from a few people. If you look at the general rating on Target versus the five stars on their website. Hey Lily, you want to do the honors?

No, you go ahead. I need to take it in from here. Quote, no, your hair actually looks like Blake's now. Quote, this is what Blake Liley's hair usually looks like, not gonna lie. Quote, the cool teenager at Target said, everyone's returning it. Quote, split ends with us. If you pair a shi-product with atrocious marketing, you have yourself a disastrous brand that will go out of business very soon.

Because not only will people not buy it for Blake Lively's negative personal brand association with the product, there's also zero rational reason to buy a product that makes your hair break. I'm sure we all love that, but the What About Me syndrome gets even worse in our personal brand, where earlier evidence of Blake Lively's Mean Girl energy resurfaces. First of all, congrats on your little bump. Congrats on your little bump. Now, did Blake loudly know that the interviewer she slapped back will never be able to bear children

and was just giving her a congratulatory message about her public pregnancy? Probably not. But then she continues the interview by talking over and ignoring the interviewer. I would. I love her Jesse's suits and how he... That's what I'm saying. Kind of frames the woman as sexist by having asked Blake about the wardrobe. Did you guys love wearing those?

kind of clothes that you know, working in digital. Everyone wants to talk about the clothes, but I wonder if they would ask the men about the clothes. But won't stop talking about her own florals and custom designs. I think that the wardrobe was a really critical part of that storytelling and I'm really, really proud of it. But I'm wearing like a ton of like boatie and vintage and it's some of my favorite wardrobe I've ever worn. It's just like so expressive and eclectic and really gives you such a sense of the character. Look, I get that Blake was pregnant and could be having a very off day. But this rude type of behavior has been repeated over and over in other interviews

and is creating a stronger association between Blake Lively and the image of a self-centered mean girl, which ultimately drags down the fourth brand that she destroyed this month. The It Ends With Us franchise. Not that it did not have problems to begin with itself, where the tragic dark story of domestic violence has been packaged and marketed as an adult coloring book before. a quote, dream come true.

With Blake Lively's promotion of the movie as a cute rom-com with hot guys and girls, altogether it just comes off as a flipping cash grab to repackage trauma and sell it back to the ones were traumatized. Even though the director of the film, Justin Baldoni, seems genuinely passionate about the core message of the film to put an end to generational abuse and violence as he bought rights for the film adaption years before the book even become popular from book to but unfortunately could not deliver the central message. As the film turned into a Blake lively personal commercial and marketing campaign for her alcohol and hair brands

and is no longer taken seriously because of all the calculated drama, such as Blake accusing Justin for making her uncomfortable in a scene that she gave directions for. And PR stunts about Justin fast-shaming her on set. That sources said, he has to now hire the publicist who represented Johnny Depp in the in the Amber Heard trial. All in all, a publicity stunt to get more media attention on the film. Films are usually marketed in three ways. Paid media. Ad spots, trailers, teasers, posters, billboards, owned media.

All content that a marketing team has access to that they don't have to pay for, such as BTS footage that can be used in promotion. And earned media. Word of mouth content like reviews, social media reactions, and memes. Hey Lily, you want to do the honors? No, you go ahead. I need to take it in from here. Which cannot be bought, but only generated. And in this case, was in full force through all the generated drama, whether planned or not planned.

Not by surprise, through all the publicity stunts, the movie is doing well by surpassing $200 million in box office already. But it's just so sad to see a movie with such an important cause not getting any of this attention because of its much. need a message, but all the negative drama around it. So not only did Blake Lively lose people's trust in her own personal and physical brands by coming off as self-centered, ignorant, and ingenuine, she also ruined the brand of the movie, the cast, the director, and made it all about her. Was this all ill-intentioned? I don't think so.

But Blake Lively's blatant ignorance is not only untasteful, but also damaged all the previous good impression she built. as her public persona. It's not surprising that as someone who has been in the entertainment industry for over 17 years and should be properly media trained, yet so many of Blake Lively's interviews come as offhanded,

which means either the interviews are an act or her family friendly sweetheart brand was ingenuine, both of which just mark her overall brand as inauthentic. And just a few 24-hour Instagram stories apologizing and making a statement about the gravity of domestic violence will not fix it. With that, in the past, where media is more controlled through a few big players, the tone deaf and out of touch

attitudes might be filtered. But with the liberty of social media nowadays, any slight inauthenticity will be caught. I don't think a single person who has or has not been through DV appreciates Blake Lively's take on the topic. And the Zyghys is done with over-glorifying celebrities who lack the slightest awareness of the audience they are quote unquote representing, who only care about self-promotion and capitalizing on their fame and looks.

I don't think Blake Lively intended any harm, but only by fostering more self-awareness and being more in touch with her audiences, will she potentially be able to come back from this branding crisis. But will she ever be seen as the same role model type person put on a pedestal? I think it ends with... It ends with us. Bring everything back in full circle. People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel. I hope you feel loved, inspired, and well today. In case if no one told you yet today, you were born to do something great, and I really appreciate you being here. Let me know your thoughts on Blake Lively and comment which pop culture influence you'd like me to analyze next through a marketing perspective.

This is your marketing bestie, Zoe Unlimited. episodes are now available on all podcast networks, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Share this episode to share the impact, and I will see you next week.