One week after settling her legal battle with Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively was publicly praised by husband Ryan Reynolds in a tender Mother’s Day post.
Reynolds, 49, took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, May 10, to pay tribute to Lively, 38, after she and her It Ends With Us costar and director, 42, reached a settlement prior to their scheduled trial commencing on Monday, May 18.
“I appreciate this mother beyond measure,” the Deadpool & Wolverine star began in text pasted over two photos of the couple enjoying time together. “She is kind. She is fearless. She’s the absolute love of my life — and to our four little kids, she’s the life of their love.” (The couple share daughters James, 11, Inez, 9, and Betty, 6, and son Olin, 2.)
Lively, who worked with Baldoni from 2023 to 2024 ahead of It Ends With Us’ release in August 2024, had filed a lawsuit against him on December 31, 2024. Her lawsuit had alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her, fostered a hostile work environment and orchestrated a smear campaign against her, claims Baldoni repeatedly denied before filing his own dismissed countersuit.
Baldoni and Lively reached their out-of-court settlement on Monday, May 4.
Reynolds’ post, which was set to Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition,” came just after Lively shared her own Mother’s Day tribute to her mom, Elaine Lively. “Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who chooses joy, every day, no matter what,” the Simple Favor star wrote via her Instagram Stories over a photo of her mother. “The strength and defiance in that is something I’ll always appreciate, especially the older I get. She makes every day special for everyone around her. Especially her babies and grandbabies.”
Ryan Reynolds’ Instagram Story Courtesy of Ryan Reynolds/Instagram
Lively’s post continued, “She isn’t just beautiful, she creates beauty, with her hands, her stories, her playfulness, her creativity, her incredible ingenuity and her love. I’m so grateful, now and forever to have been shaped by your heart full of love, optimism and magic. You make the ordinary extraordinary. I love you. Thank you mama.”
Lively and Baldoni released a joint statement via their attorneys that announced their surprise settlement last week. “The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind,” the statement, obtained by Us Weekly, read. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”
The statement continued, “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
In the leadup to Lively’s trial, Reynolds remained a pillar of support to his wife, telling Today during its April 19 broadcast that he stood firmly in her corner. “I’ll just say, I’ve never in my life been more proud of my wife,” he told journalist Willie Geist at the time.
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