Ryan Reynolds is reportedly privately pushing for his embattled wife, Blake Lively, to settle her court battle with Justin Baldoni as it threatens to impact both their brands.
The “Deadpool” actor remains supportive of her publicly and has even been named as a witness in the case, but insiders say he realizes being dragged through court would negatively impact his reputation.
Reports also suggest Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are making plans to move to the U.K. when everything is done after buying up a house in Barnet, a city on the outskirts of London.
Ryan Reynolds Doesn’t Want To Be ‘Dragged Through Court’
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively continue to make headlines for issues relating to her long-running court battle with her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.
Lively sued Baldoni in 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of the film, as well as launching a smear campaign against her to tarnish her image. He denied it and launched a countersuit against her, also naming Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane as defendants.
Although a judge dismissed Baldoni’s suit, Reynolds has remained entangled with the case and would testify as a witness should it proceed to trial in May. Reports suggest he doesn’t want things to escalate that much and is privately begging Lively to settle out of court.
“Ryan is fully supportive publicly,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShutterScoop. “But privately? He wants this settled. This is pulling him in — and he knows it. He doesn’t want to be dragged through court.”
The Actor Is ‘Worried’ The Case Will ‘Destroy Him Too’
Several PR experts have weighed in on how the public fight could negatively impact Lively’s career, while reports have also emerged suggesting she’s been given the kick among some Hollywood quarters.
Reynolds seemingly understands this and would rather not go down that path, as it’ll definitely affect his reputation within Hollywood.
“He’s worried this is going to destroy him too,” the insider told the journalist. “His brand, his reputation — everything.”
The source went further to explain that many people expected it to have been settled already,” but the couple seemingly finds themselves in a tight corner as things have now gotten “bigger, messier, and harder to control.”
“That’s a nightmare scenario for him,” they added. “He’s now part of the story whether he likes it or not.”
Blake Lively Is Not Backing Down
Recently, Lively suffered a massive blow to her case as Judge Lewis Liman tossed out 10 out of the 13 claims she made against Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment and conspiracy.
She’s now left with 3 claims on the table, namely, breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting, and is bent on proving her case during trial next month.
“She’s not backing down,” the source told Shuter. “But he wishes she would.”
Her lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, said in a statement that the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy” her client’s reputation.
Blake Lively Spoke On Her Plans To Keep Fighting For Other
After Lively’s lawyer revealed her intention to press on with her legal battle with Baldoni, the “Gossip Girl” star subsequently released a statement on Instagram addressing the legal blow.
She thanked the court despite the loss and noted that she is suing her co-star to help others who may have gone through the same experience.
In the lengthy post, Lively called out those who perpetrate “digital violence” while stressing that she will not stop doing her own part in fighting systems and people who seek to “harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims.”
Has Blake Lively’s Lawsuit ‘Ruined’ Her Hollywood Career?
Meanwhile, industry sources are already speaking out on the damage Lively’s brand has taken in Hollywood.
According to the Daily Mail, a Disney executive discussed how the lawsuit had “ruined” her career, revealing how some Hollywood circles are also considering giving her the boot.
“This lawsuit has ruined her in Hollywood… the truth is she was never that popular. She had a reputation for being difficult, one of those toxic people who always thinks she knows best,” the industry insider said.
They likened Lively’s body language to that of someone who has packed up her career and is ready to bow out, before saying she’ll not be missed in the industry.
The Hollywood source added, “The general view now is that she’s made her bed and she can lie in it. I don’t think people in Hollywood are shedding tears over her.”
