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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are reportedly going through a tough time in their marriage due to the ongoing legal battles stemming from Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit, filed in December, claims Baldoni sexually harassed Lively, which he has denied. In response, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit seeking USD 400 million from Lively, Reynolds, and her publicist, along with a USD 250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times over its coverage of the allegations. All parties involved have denied the accusations.
These legal challenges are said to be putting significant strain on Blake and Ryan’s relationship, with a source telling Us Weekly that the scrutiny they face has made things “tense at home.” Lively has also expressed the emotional toll the situation has taken on her family, particularly their four children.
Despite the pressure, Ryan Reynolds has been standing by his wife, offering her support throughout the ordeal. Sources have indicated that the couple is doing their best to stay positive and support one another, though they acknowledge the ups and downs they face. Reynolds, in his court filings, defended Lively, criticizing Baldoni and reportedly referring to him as a “predator.” He also argued that he had a First Amendment right to express his strong disapproval of Baldoni, whom he believed had harassed his wife.
The couple has also expressed surprise at the intense online backlash they have received. A source revealed that Lively wished people would wait for the court proceedings to unfold before making judgments. The couple has felt unsupported by some of the public, stating that typically, victims of such allegations receive more empathy, which they feel has not been the case for them.
At the March 7 premiere of Another Simple Favor at the South by Southwest Film Festival, Lively engaged with fans, but social media users supporting Baldoni falsely claimed that the interaction was staged to boost attendance. Meanwhile, Lively’s co-star, Anna Kendrick, kept a more reserved stance on the film, though sources have clarified that their differing approaches were simply reflective of their individual personalities.