Kjersti Flaa, a seasoned entertainment journalist, recently opened up about a distressing interview with actress Blake Lively that left her deeply hurt and questioning her career choices.

The incident, which took place in 2016 during a press junket for the movie “Café Society,” has gained renewed attention after a clip of the interview resurfaced online, sparking widespread criticism of Lively’s behavior.

In a candid interview with the Daily Mail, Flaa revealed the personal anguish she experienced during and after the interview, shedding light on the often unseen emotional toll of celebrity journalism.

Flaa, 51, who has spent years navigating the highs and lows of interviewing Hollywood’s elite, described the encounter with Lively as a “traumatizing experience.”

The incident began innocuously enough when Flaa complimented the visibly pregnant actress on her “little bump.”

However, what was intended as a friendly remark quickly turned into a moment of sharp discomfort. Lively responded with sarcasm, and the atmosphere of the interview shifted from professional to tense.

“To be honest, it hurts because I obviously wasn’t pregnant and I could never get pregnant,” Flaa shared with the Daily Mail, revealing a deeply personal struggle that made Lively’s reaction all the more painful. “So to me that comment was like a bullet.”

The unexpected harshness of Lively’s response left Flaa feeling “almost paralyzed,” unsure of how to proceed.

The journalist, who had approached the interview with her usual professionalism, found herself in a situation where she felt “very uncomfortable” and wanted nothing more than to “leave and get out of there.”

Lively’s behavior did not improve as the interview continued.

Flaa described how both Lively and her co-star, Parker Posey, largely ignored her, choosing instead to converse with each other.

Flaa felt belittled and disrespected, not only as a journalist but as a person.

“It made me feel like a complete failure,” she admitted.

“I kept going through the interview in my head afterwards trying to figure out what I had said or done to make [Lively and Parker Posey] behave like that. It made no sense to me.”

In the world of entertainment journalism, interviews are typically designed to promote films and foster positive relationships between actors and the media. Flaa’s experience, however, was far from that ideal.

“I was there to do a job, and they made sure to make it as difficult as possible for me to do that,” she recalled. “I was invited to meet them. It certainly did not feel like that.”

The resurfaced clip of the interview quickly went viral, with many social media users condemning Lively’s conduct.

Comments ranged from calling her behavior “uncalled for” to labeling the actress as “condescending.”

One user remarked, “The fact that Blake couldn’t even turn her head for more than 10 seconds to look at this woman is despicable. How rude.”

Lively’s past interactions with the press have also come under scrutiny. In another resurfaced interview from 2017, she was seen questioning a reporter’s knowledge of her film “All I See Is You” and quizzing him in a manner that some found dismissive.

Despite the backlash, Lively has remained silent on the matter, although a source close to her told People that she was “annoyed” by Flaa’s “little bump” comment, deeming it a “rude statement.”

The incident with Lively has also reignited discussions about the pressures and challenges faced by journalists in the entertainment industry.

Interviews are a staple of celebrity culture, yet they can sometimes turn into a battleground of egos and misunderstandings.

For Flaa, the experience was a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of her job and the emotional resilience required to navigate such encounters.

Adding to the controversy surrounding Lively, she has recently faced criticism for promoting her cocktail and haircare brands while doing press for her latest movie, “It Ends With Us,” which tackles themes of domestic violence.

Bethenny Frankel, in an Instagram video, criticized Lively for trying to “triple- and quadruple-dip” in monetizing her businesses, comparing her strategy to that of Jennifer Lopez during her recent press tour.

In a subtle response to the criticism, Lively posted resources for victims of domestic violence on her social media, seemingly acknowledging the sensitivity of the issue while sidestepping direct engagement with her detractors.

Kjersti Flaa’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the human side of journalism—an industry often romanticized but fraught with challenges, especially when it intersects with the world of celebrity.

Her story underscores the importance of empathy, both in front of and behind the camera, and the lasting impact that a few thoughtless words can have on someone’s life.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW: