Today, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are synonymous with the perfect couple in Hollywood. The chemistry between them and their bond are clearly visible. Their frequent banter and their presence on social media made them one of the most famous couples in the industry. Both married in Boone Hall in 2012, but controversy was not excluded.

The couple came across pictures of Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina in the early days of their relationship. They were blown away by the surreal scenes of moss-covered Virginia live oaks and rustic charm, and dreamed of exchanging vows in front of so much romance. The romanticized plantation setting from the tear-jerkers of films like The Notebook seemed literally the perfect backdrop for this romantic ceremony. But the beauty of the place trumped its troubled past—a truth that would haunt them for years to come.

Time passed, and after being drawn into the wedding planning, they began to see what so many have mentioned – or actually hinted at – the harrowing signs of a painful past. The physical evidence was crumbling brick slave quarters, cotton fields that stood at attention and told them of the atrocities committed on that soil. The plantation, the place where enslaved Africans were inhumanly mistreated, stood mute in the face of the horrors that befell them while their captors were busy building their fortunes on their backs.

Previously, the civil rights group Color of Change had been exerting pressure for months, urging wedding platforms such as The Knot and Pinterest to stop showing these plantations. These sites are “a physical reminder of one of the most horrific human rights abuses the world has ever seen,” the group says.

Actor Ryan Reynolds later admitted that he and his wife Blake Lively deeply regretted choosing Boone Hall Plantation as the location for their wedding. He confessed that they made a huge mistake by choosing the location without considering its history. Reflecting on the situation, he admitted, “A huge damn mistake like that can either make you shut down, or it can reset things and move you into action. That’s not to say you won’t screw up again. But restructuring and challenging lifelong social conditioning is a work that never ends.”

The venue’s advertising belied its dark past as a plantation, touting it instead as an ideal wedding venue. This also meant perpetuating the glorification of anti-black violence sites. It was a decision the couple made years ago, but faced renewed criticism in light of Blake Lively’s past comments, which had been called racially insensitive.

In an interview with Fast Company last week, Reynolds reiterated his apology, saying, “It’s something we will always deeply and unreservedly regret. It’s impossible to come to terms with. What we saw then was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw afterward was a place built on a devastating tragedy. Years ago, we got married again at home – but shame works in strange ways.” It’s a damn big mistake like that that silences you, or it makes things seem new and makes you act.

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