Ryan Reynolds Defends Blake Lively Amid Legal Battle

When private text messages between Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, surfaced in court documents earlier this year, the public got a rare, unvarnished glimpse into the fierce loyalty and raw emotion that can play out behind the scenes of a celebrity legal battle. The messages, unsealed amid Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with director Justin Baldoni, have ignited debate not only about the case itself but also about the role of spousal support in the face of public controversy and personal crisis.

At the heart of the drama is Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, her co-star and director on the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us. Filed in December 2024, the suit alleges a pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation on set—allegations Baldoni has vigorously denied. According to The New York Times and E! News, Lively’s complaint details a sophisticated campaign of professional and personal harm carried out by Baldoni and his associates after she raised concerns about his conduct.

As the legal process unfolded, the spotlight widened to include Reynolds, whose private messages—written during the film’s tumultuous release window—were made public as part of the discovery process. Far from the carefully crafted statements celebrities often release, Reynolds’ texts were striking for their candor and intensity. He did not mince words in his defense of Lively, expressing frustration that she was being denied the chance to celebrate a professional triumph amid swirling online speculation and behind-the-scenes chaos.

In one particularly pointed exchange, Reynolds wrote, “Baldoni and these other buckets of dumb-dumb-juice should be acknowledging the speculation and gossip themselves. They should be jumping in front of it in the most full throated, unqualified way. Now.” He went further, labeling Baldoni a “thoroughbred, predatory fraudster” and an “inexplicably toxic mess.” According to Puck News, Reynolds’ representative summed up his attitude succinctly: “What husband wouldn’t support his wife and the mother of his children?” The rep added that Reynolds “passionately believes in and will stand up for the basic right to a safe workplace free of harassment and retaliation for his wife and others. Then, now and always.”

For Reynolds, the issue was not just about public relations or reputation management. As his rep told Puck News, “If anything, Ryan feels like he wasn’t angry enough.” The actor, best known for his sharp wit on and off screen, was uncharacteristically blunt in his private communications, a testament to the seriousness with which he viewed the situation—and perhaps to the unique pressures of defending a spouse under siege.

The public’s reaction to the unsealed texts has been mixed. Some, as reported by Yahoo News, cringed at the exposure of such private exchanges, regardless of the celebrity status of those involved. Others found Reynolds’ stance refreshing—a clear, unequivocal show of support that many would hope for in their own relationships. “Not a PR-softened statement or a neutral, diplomatic thing, but an active, protective stance when it counts,” wrote one columnist, adding that loyalty is “what happens in the messy middle, when things are uncomfortable and public opinion is divided.”

The legal battle itself has been anything but straightforward. Lively’s complaint, first filed with California’s Civil Rights Department, named not only Baldoni but also his production company, Wayfarer Studios, and several associates. She alleged that after she raised concerns about “invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Wayfarer’s CEO Jamey Heath, she became the target of a “sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation.” The complaint cited substantial harm to her personal and professional life, including claims of breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and interference with prospective economic advantage.

Baldoni’s legal team, for their part, has pushed back forcefully. Bryan Freedman, attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer, called Lively’s allegations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious,” arguing that her legal actions were a “desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation.” Freedman also emphasized that Wayfarer’s crisis management efforts were standard operating procedure and not evidence of retaliation, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and E! News.

The controversy has drawn in other Hollywood heavyweights as well. In one exchange, Lively and Reynolds reached out to Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, asking them to preview an early cut of the film. Reynolds joked, “This movie has been one of the all time zingers on and off set. One day, we’ll make a movie about the movie.” Lively, meanwhile, confided that the production had nearly broken her, describing Baldoni as having “zero experience, but the good news is he also has no taste, and an enormous ego, but only because he’s in a cult and believes he’s our century’s prophet.”

The case has had far-reaching professional consequences. Following the publication of Lively’s complaint and a New York Times article detailing the alleged smear campaign against her, Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency, William Morris Endeavor. The agency, which also represents Reynolds and Lively, denied any pressure from the couple to sever ties with Baldoni. Meanwhile, several cast members from It Ends With Us and other celebrities voiced public support for Lively, with Jenny Slate describing the revelations as “terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening.”

The legal wrangling has continued in multiple venues. Baldoni and his associates filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for libel and other claims, while Lively filed her own suit in New York federal court, reiterating her allegations of harassment and retaliation. The disputes have also spilled into the court of public opinion, with both sides accusing the other of orchestrating media campaigns to sway sentiment. At one point, Lively and Reynolds sought a gag order on Baldoni’s attorney to “avoid improper conduct” during the proceedings, according to E! News.

Even as the legal battles rage on, both Lively and Reynolds have remained defiant. After a judge dismissed a countersuit by Baldoni against Lively, Reynolds, and others, Lively wrote on social media, “Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back.”

For many observers, the saga has become a referendum not just on workplace safety and accountability in Hollywood but also on the personal costs of standing up—and standing by—a loved one in the glare of public scrutiny. Reynolds’ unguarded support for his wife, now laid bare for all to see, offers a rare window into the private realities behind the headlines and the enduring complexities of loyalty under fire.