Following the news that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer, Blake Lively is expressing regret for partaking in jokes related to the royal’s widely scrutinized “Photoshop fail” and absence from the public eye.
The “Gossip Girl” alum, 36, issued an apology to Kate Middleton on Friday for her contribution to the noise that has dominated the internet for weeks.
“I’m sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this,” Lively began in a note on her Instagram Story. “I made a silly post around the ‘Photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today. I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.”
Earlier in the day, Middleton addressed the global speculation about her health and her private recovery after abdominal surgery in January. The princess ultimately revealed that though her operation had been “successful,” cancer was discovered amid follow-up tests. She’s now undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy.
Kate explained that the family had previously remained mum on the situation as she and Prince William took time to explain everything to their children — George, 10; Charlotte, 8; and Louis, 5 — “in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.” She requested privacy as she continues her treatment, noting that while she looks “forward to being back when I am able,” she “must focus on making a full recovery.”
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
Kate also expressed solidarity for anyone else “whose lives have been affected by cancer,” urging them to “not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
On U.K. Mother’s Day earlier this month, the palace released its first official image of Kate following her surgery. That photo — of Kate with her three young kids — proved to be altered and was ultimately pulled by major news outlets. Middleton later admitted to editing the image.
Lively joined in on the worldwide chatter, sharing a since-deleted image of herself with her head edited onto the body of another woman with an usually large thumb, and a lemon floating in the air.
“I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today. Now you know why I’ve been MIA,” Lively quipped at the time.
Several other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, also made jokes amid the conspiracy theories swirling about Kate, though Kardashian has yet to apologize following Friday’s news.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel and Jamie Lee Curtis were among the celebrities who, just ahead of hearing from the princess herself, called on people to leave her be.
“She had an operation, she had abdominal surgery. Maybe she has a colostomy bag and doesn’t want everybody to see it. I mean, really. People are demanding she get dressed up and march through London so we can have a look at her. Leave this woman alone!” Kimmel said during Thursday’s monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
And mere hours before Middleton announced her diagnosis, Curtis took to Instagram to call for a stop to the “bulls–t conspiracy theor[ies].”
“This is a human being with young children, and clearly some sort of a health issue. That is a private matter,” the Oscar winner wrote. “Do we not have better things to do and more important things to think about and be concerned about than this? It’s a really low point in our society when there are SO MANY crucial issues that need our attention.”
Upon announcing Middleton’s surgery in January, Kensington Palace noted the princess would be out of commission until Easter.
On Friday, after the announcement of her cancer, a palace spokesperson confirmed that “the princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team.”
