Nickelodeon star Alexa Nikolas calls out Blake Lively for using music by her alleged abuser and groomer

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Aug 22, 2024 at 01:46 PM

Reading time: 3 minutes

61031

It turns out that all of the drama and controversy surrounding the It Ends with Us press tour was actually nothing compared to the rollout of the movie. Every week online sleuths have uncovered another juicy detail that intensifies the rumours of a behind-the-scenes feud between actress Blake Lively and director and leading man Justin Baldoni. And now, the entire production is facing criticism from someone in the industry who is not very pleased about the film’s soundtrack.

Amid all of the ongoing scandals, Baldoni hired a crisis PR manager to clean up the mess—only to then land himself in hot water when it was revealed that the very same manager had previously worked on Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard. Even so, it’s beginning to look like it was a good shout to bring in backup because there’s more scandal afoot. Former Nickelodeon actor Alexa Nikolas has just piled onto the dumpster fire by calling It Ends with Us out for including the music of an alleged “groomer and abuser.”

Alexa Nikolas calls out Blake Lively for using alleged abuser Mike Milosh’s music

Alexa Nikolas is best known for portraying Nicole on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101. Recently, she called out Lively and the It Ends With Us ensemble in a new Instagram post, in which she critiques the Gossip Girl star for using the song ‘Hymn’ by band RHYE in the movie soundtrack.

The group was founded by Nikolas’ ex-husband Mike Milosh, a Canadian musician who is professionally known as Milosh. He was married to Nikolas from 2012 to 2016. In 2021, the former actor came forward to accuse him of sexual abuse and grooming.

Nikolas claimed that Milosh groomed her starting at age 16 after the two connected on MySpace when she sent him a compliment. The now 32-year-old went on to file a lawsuit for sexual battery, gender-based violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Milosh has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd and outrageous false claims.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alexa Nikolas (@matchthesource)

In her Instagram statement, the actor wrote: “I can’t say enough how disappointed I am in Blake Lively and ‘It Ends With Us’—not only has your rollout of this film been a complete disaster and shame but you also put my known abuser/groomer’s music in your film. There is physical evidence of him grooming me when he was 33 and I was 16. It’s easily accessible on the internet sadly since I had to also take on the emotional labour of exposing RHYE with evidence.”

Why is there so much drama with ‘It Ends with Us’?

Although the story of the film covers some uncomfortable themes such as sexual abuse and domestic violence, the marketing interestingly zoomed in on the romantic love triangle and flower theme throughout the story. According to the internet, this was completely missing the point and the culprits of this damning choice were Blake Lively and Colleen Hoover.

Rumours started to emerge that this creative difference over how to film and market the movie gave rise to the feud between Baldoni and Lively.

Apparently, there were two different cuts of the movie: one was championed by Baldoni and focused on the domestic violence aspects and another one which was focused more heavily on Lily’s journey and was favoured by Lively. In the end, the cast allegedly sided with the actress, effectively kicking Baldoni’s version to the curb.

@matthewhappy24

Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni Cared About Their Characters🏖✨💕#fyp #foryoupage #blakelively #justinbaldoni #kingmatthew24 #matthewhappy #celebrity #fame

♬ my tears ricochet - Katelyn
@pickle_plants

Was there really a battle of the film cuts for This Ends With Us? Which edit is in theaters?? #itendswithus #blakelively #justinbaldoni #ryanreynolds #trending #news #ReleasetheBaldoniCut #greenscreen

♬ original sound - Christina - Christina

What followed was a promotion tour and several interviews with Lively that fans deemed as tone-deaf and offensive because she struggled to acknowledge the darker themes of the movie, or provide any information about surviving domestic violence.

The actor’s cheery invitation to “grab your friends and wear your florals” to go watch the film notably also lacked a trigger warning and was ridiculed throughout the internet.

@gabschase

What is going on with the marketing for this movie??

♬ original sound - Gabrielle
https://www.tiktok.com/@evie.magazine/video/7403096901345611050
@sboshmafu

Florals and friends🌺🌺🌺 #itendswithus #itendswithusmovie #blakelively #film #filmtok #films #movie #movietok

♬ original sound - Sibongile Mafu
@calabasaswings

Not a fan anymore. ALSO THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST JUSTIN BALDONI IS UNFAIR AND RUDE. Why does she want to take over this film so much?#blakelively #itendswithus #marketing #annoying #ryanreynolds

♬ original sound - Calabasaswings

On top of this, the actress also used the movie as a vehicle to promote her drink companies Betty Booze and Betty Buzz.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Betty Buzz (@bettybuzz)

This included premium cocktails named after the abuser with no acknowledgement that alcohol frequently incites people to violence.

So, the Milosh incident is just the latest scandal to add to a growing avalanche of publicity nightmares. Given how things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if Baldoni’s crisis PR manager is billing by the hour, she’s probably clocking some serious overtime.

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

Fans are mad about Blake Lively’s current portrayal of Lily Bloom in upcoming It Ends With Us film

By Charlie Sawyer

4 important reasons why Blake Lively being controversial shouldn’t surprise anyone

By Abby Amoakuh

From hot ugly to the Ryan Reynolds straight men theory, here’s what you missed on dateTok

By Abby Amoakuh

What is soft swinging? And why is the term trending on Mormon TikTok?

By Eliza Frost

What is Banksying? Inside the latest toxic dating trend even worse than ghosting

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

How celebrities like Mark Wahlberg and Gwen Stefani are monetising spirituality through the Hallow app

By Abby Amoakuh

You star Madeline Brewer faces misogynistic backlash after internet brands her character unlikeable

By Charlie Sawyer

Mexican beauty influencer Valeria Marquez killed during TikTok livestream in alleged femicide

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

MrBeast hunts for volunteers to test the viral question: who would win between 100 men and one gorilla?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Are Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins feuding? Fans freak out after The White Lotus co-stars unfollow each other

By Charlie Sawyer

New study confirms Bacterial Vaginosis can be sexually transmitted, backing what women have long suspected

By Charlie Sawyer

Everything you need to know about toxic gossip site Tattle Life and how its founder finally got revealed

By Eliza Frost

What is Shrekking? The latest toxic dating trend explained 

By Abby Amoakuh

Aimee Lou Wood urges fans not to copy her teeth as DIY teeth filing trend rises on TikTok

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

James Toback hit with landmark $1.68 billion jury award after 40 women accused director of sexual abuse

By Matilda Ferraris

From Ballerina Cappuccina to Trallalero Trallalà, we unpack the darker undertones of Italian brainrot

By Charlie Sawyer

The #MeToo movement is at risk. How the Harvey Weinstein retrial risks doing unimaginable damage 

By Abby Amoakuh

New video game that allows men to r*pe female family members triggers backlash amid incel concerns

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Chappell Roan push her assistant on the red carpet? We analyse the footage

By Charlie Sawyer

Is Brooklyn Beckham feuding with his family? Rumours circulate after the chef skips his dad David Beckham’s 50th birthday