Ryan Reynolds has been accused of 'stoking harassment' on social media by the former publicist of Justin Baldoni, despite the legal dispute between Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, and Baldoni having officially concluded.
Three months after the conclusion of the expensive legal dispute, Reynolds reportedly liked several posts from two influencers who support Lively. One such post, titled 'Justin Baldoni's Problematic Behavior,' was liked by Reynolds this week. Although he later unliked the post, he had previously followed and engaged with accounts such as 'ExPatriarch,' run by influencer Brent MacLerie, and legal commentator MorewithMJ, who advanced an anti-Baldoni narrative.
Reynolds' alleged engagement with these influencers has drawn surprise, given that Lively herself claimed to be a victim of a 'retaliatory smear campaign' during the legal proceedings. During the lawsuit, it was revealed that Reynolds had sent strongly worded emails to his agency, describing Baldoni with expletives and demanding a public apology. He also criticized executives at Sony.
Melissa Nathan, who was briefly hired by Baldoni's team, stated that posts from pro-Lively influencers led to an 'immediate spike in harassment' against her and her public relations team. She reported being attacked daily by these commentators, who she claims incite harassment and misrepresent legal situations.
Sources close to Reynolds countered that pro-Lively creators are also subjected to attacks and harassment on social media. The influencers in question, many without legal backgrounds, generate content based on specific viewpoints, a phenomenon that gained prominence during the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard legal battles.
In April, a judge dismissed ten of Lively's thirteen claims, including her allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni. The ruling stated she could not pursue these claims under federal law as she was an independent contractor, not an employee. Her remaining claims, centered on 'retaliation,' were settled out of court the following month with no financial payout.
'It Ends With Us,' which Baldoni also directed, was released in August 2024 amidst reports of on-set tension between Lively and Baldoni during the press tour. Lively reportedly insisted on script changes and a personal cut of the film, which was ultimately used instead of Baldoni's version.