The Unforgettable Encounter: Kjersti Flaa and Blake Lively

Kjersti Flaa, a Norwegian journalist based in Los Angeles, never anticipated that her awkward interaction with actress Blake Lively would capture such widespread attention. During a recent interview, Ms. Flaa reflected on the incident, which occurred during the 2016 press junket for the film “Café Society.” At the time, she was engaged in a discussion with a fellow Norwegian reporter about the challenges of celebrity interviews that go awry.

In an impulsive moment, Ms. Flaa decided to upload the tense exchange with Ms. Lively to YouTube, simply to “see what happens.” The video, titled “The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job,” has since amassed over 5.4 million views since its release in August. The clip runs for four minutes and 17 seconds and showcases a candid moment that many found relatable.

In the video, Ms. Flaa congratulates Ms. Lively on her recent pregnancy announcement by commenting on her “little bump.” However, the actress, visibly irritated, retorts, “Congrats on your little bump,” despite Ms. Flaa not being pregnant. This unexpected response has sparked a variety of reactions from audiences.

Interestingly, Ms. Flaa shared that she released the clip during a period when Ms. Lively was receiving criticism for her press tour for the romantic thriller “It Ends With Us.” The timing of the upload led to a resurgence of scrutiny directed at the actress, while Ms. Flaa, who was relatively unknown in the junket reporting world, suddenly found herself in the spotlight.

Reflecting on her decision to post the clip, Ms. Flaa admitted, “Back then, when I did that interview, I never wanted to post it on YouTube because I knew that, A, I would probably never be invited again by her publicists, clients, or the studio, and B, I think the cultural landscape was different eight years ago. They would have likely attacked me instead of her, right?”