Ryan Reynolds has openly backed his wife, Blake Lively, following the public release of his private text messages amid her legal confrontation with Justin Baldoni. These texts, unveiled in early 2025 during the ongoing lawsuit between Lively and Baldoni, reveal Reynolds’ passionate defense as he supports Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace, underscoring the depth of Ryan Reynolds Blake Lively support in this high-profile case. The dispute centers around allegations stemming from their 2024 film It Ends With Us and has drawn significant attention in Hollywood and beyond.
Details of Reynolds’ Texts Expressing Frustration and Defense
The unsealed messages show Reynolds expressing frustration that Blake Lively was subjected to negative narratives that he finds unfair and damaging. In one text to his WME agent Warren Zavala, Reynolds praised Lively’s role in the film’s success and criticized Justin Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer Studios for allowing speculation and gossip to overshadow the achievement. Reynolds wrote that Lively “WILLED this weekend into reality” and emphasized that those perpetuating harmful rumors should directly confront the situation. He branded the situation a “big f—ing mess” and took issue with Lively being portrayed as a “controlling bitch.”
In another message sent in July 2024, Reynolds labeled Baldoni as a “thoroughbred, predatory fraudster” and an “inexplicably toxic mess.” He further stated:
I’d put Blake’s reputation on trial any day of the week. She’s worked with … dozens of other mercurial, and abusive people. In her experience (and mine) nobody has ever reached the empyrean heights of vile the way Justin Baldoni has. His complete lack of not only remorse but self-preservation is a character study in malignant, lazy-lidded stupidity and darkness.
— Ryan Reynolds, as revealed in unsealed texts
Ryan Reynolds’ Representative Confirms Support and Condemnation of Harassment
Following the text revelations, a spokesperson for Ryan Reynolds addressed the public and media, emphasizing Reynolds’ solidarity with Blake Lively. The representative remarked,
Yes, Ryan got involved — what husband wouldn’t support his wife and the mother of his children?
— Ryan Reynolds’ representative
The rep further explained Reynolds’ views on the broader issues of harassment and retaliation at work:
He saw his wife fighting daily to stand up against sexual harassment in a private and respectful way, only to face retaliation for doing so,
If anything, Ryan feels like he wasn’t angry enough. He 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.
— Ryan Reynolds’ representative
Legal Battle Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Intensifies
Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliatory actions, which Baldoni denies. She is seeking more than $160 million in damages, with the trial set for May 2026 in New York. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s countersuit, which named both Lively and Reynolds and alleged defamation and extortion, was dismissed by a judge.
Baldoni’s lawyers have characterized the dispute differently, arguing that Lively and Reynolds used their fame to undermine Baldoni and seize control of the film’s production. They claimed:
This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio,
Then, when Lively and Reynolds’ efforts failed to win them the acclaim they believed they so richly deserved, they turned their fury on their chosen scapegoat.
— Justin Baldoni’s legal team
Reactions from Both Legal Teams and Industry Impact
Blake Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, highlighted evidence revealed by the unsealed materials, stating that many women involved in the film’s production reported inappropriate behavior, which was dismissed by Baldoni’s team. McCawley said:
The overwhelming evidence revealed by the unsealed materials shows that women in every role on set — from producers, to writers, to cast, to crew — experienced what they believed was inappropriate conduct. Baldoni’s team dismissed them as ‘trivial,’ but there is nothing trivial about sexual harassment.
Following the lawsuit disclosure in late 2024, Baldoni was dropped by WME, the agency representing him at that time. WME later issued a statement denying that Reynolds or Lively pressured Baldoni’s agent during events like the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, clarifying:
Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client.
What This Means for Hollywood’s Workplace Culture and the Trial’s Road Ahead
This lawsuit and the accompanying public disclosures, including Ryan Reynolds Blake Lively support through private messages, cast a spotlight on how allegations of harassment and retaliation are managed within the entertainment industry. The case’s progression toward its 2026 trial is being closely watched for its potential to influence conversations about safe working environments and accountability in Hollywood.
Given the strong statements from both parties and the intensity of their legal bids, the trial promises to be a high-stakes confrontation with far-reaching consequences for those involved and potentially for how similar cases are handled in the future.
