Ryan Reynolds Appears Publicly for First Time Since Blake Lively’s Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
Ryan Reynolds made a public appearance on January 7 at the National Board of Review Awards gala in New York City, marking his first outing since his wife, Blake Lively, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends with Us costar, Justin Baldoni. Reynolds, 48, was on hand to present the honoree Wicked, which was named the best movie of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
Lively, 37, has kept a low profile in recent weeks following the legal action she filed on December 20 against Baldoni, 40, and his associates, including his producing partners and publicists. In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment on set, alleging disturbing behavior including uninvited intrusions into her trailer and the imposition of unplanned physical intimacy scenes.
She also claimed the experience caused her significant emotional distress, leading to trauma, grief, and anxiety. Additionally, Lively mentioned the impact the situation had on her family, including Reynolds and their children, who have reportedly suffered due to the ongoing legal battle.
Baldoni has strongly denied the allegations. His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called the accusations “false” and “outrageous,” further accusing Lively of engaging in a “calculated smear campaign.” On December 31, Baldoni and his legal team filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging the publication’s coverage of the matter was misleading and damaging.
Lively’s complaint also references a meeting in January 2024, just before filming was set to resume after industry guild strikes. Lively claims it was convened to address the hostile work environment, while Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges that Reynolds confronted Baldoni aggressively during the meeting.
Despite the ongoing legal drama, Reynolds and Lively were seen together publicly in early December, attending a screening of Wicked: Part One in support of co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
