Ryan Reynolds admitted his wedding to Blake Lively at a southern American plantation in 2012 was a "mistake" during a Fast Company interview.
The couple's wedding took place at Boone Hall, a former plantation in Charleston, South Carolina that serves as a historical site, tourist attraction, and wedding venue for some. It was even featured in the 2004 movie "The Notebook."
*graphic language*
Reynolds said it was a "giant f***ing mistake" to get married at the plantation, and said he and Lively will always be "unreservedly sorry" for the decision.
“It’s impossible to reconcile,” he said. “What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy.” Reynolds insisted that such a mistake can “cause you to shut down, or it can re-frame things and move you into action.”
Trying to undo the damage, Reynolds and his wife donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund this past year. In 2019, the couple also donated $2 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
“We want to educate ourselves about other people’s experiences and talk to our kids about everything, all of it . . . especially our own complicity,” Reynolds and Lively said in a joint statement.
The controversy about their wedding location isn't new, but just more publicized. Back in 2018, Reynolds tweeted out praise for marvel's "Black Panther" film. Most people praised the actor for being "woke" for his support in a superhero movie with a mostly black cast.
BELIEVE. THE. HYPE. All hail the king #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/qENThMS9qU
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 17, 2018
However, a few keen users were quick to call Reynolds out on the hypocrisy.
u got married on a plantation https://t.co/b0SJv7EzS4
— noncompliance en masse (@tired_ugly_) February 18, 2018
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Amid the recent revival of the controversy, Boone Hall released a statement addressing the backlash from the choice to hold celebratory events like weddings in a place where so many suffered.
"We treasure all our relationships with couples that have chosen to get married at Boone Hall, and, when needed, respond to them in private, honest, and personal discussions to address any concerns they may have," the statement read. "The discussions are heartfelt as we want to listen and put love and respect at the center of any issues that arise. We will always work to be a part of the solution for our couples, not a part of the problem.”
There are few photos of the wedding online, as Reynolds and Lively wanted total privacy when tying the knot. However, there are a few photos on Martha Stewart's website, as she played a significant role in executing the couple's big day.
From the photos of Lively's rose-gold embroidered Marchesa gown, and the pair's wedding bands designed by Lorraine Schwartz, who created Kim Kardashian's and Beyonce's engagement rings, it's pretty safe to say the event was incredibly lavish.
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