Ryan Reynolds has been accused of encouraging online harassment related to the legal dispute between his wife, Blake Lively, and her former co-star Justin Baldoni, according to reports.
Three months after the resolution of a costly legal battle, Reynolds allegedly engaged with social media posts critical of Baldoni. These included liking content from influencers who focus on what they describe as Baldoni's "problematic behavior." While Reynolds later unliked one post, he also follows accounts that present a strongly anti-Baldoni narrative, including those by legal commentator Mary-Jane Morley and an "anti misogyny educator" named Brent MacLerie. This engagement is considered surprising for a prominent actor, especially given Lively's own claims of being subjected to a "retaliatory smear campaign" during the legal proceedings.
During the legal action, Reynolds reportedly expressed significant anger towards Baldoni, sending lengthy emails to his agency. In these communications, he allegedly used strong language to describe Baldoni, calling him a "predator," "fraud," "sociopath," and other derogatory terms. Reynolds also reportedly demanded a public apology from Baldoni and criticized executives at Sony.
Melissa Nathan, who was briefly hired by Baldoni's team amid reports of tension between the co-stars, stated that posts by pro-Lively influencers lead to an "immediate spike in harassment" directed at her and her public relations team. Nathan described daily attacks and misrepresentation of legal situations by these commentators, whose statements are taken as truth by some.
Sources close to Reynolds countered that pro-Lively creators are also frequently attacked and harassed, with pro-Baldoni accounts allegedly targeting Lively daily. These influencers, many without legal backgrounds, are said to generate income by creating content that fuels animosity, a phenomenon reportedly amplified during the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard legal proceedings.
In April, a judge dismissed ten of Lively's thirteen claims against Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment. The judge ruled that the harassment claims could not proceed under federal law because Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee. Her remaining claims, which focused on retaliation, were settled out of court in May, with no financial payout confirmed in court filings.
"It Ends With Us," which Baldoni also directed, was released in August 2024. Reports emerged during its press tour of ongoing tensions between Baldoni and Lively. Lively reportedly insisted on script changes and sought to produce her own cut of the film, which was ultimately used instead of Baldoni's version.