Ryan Reynolds honored his wife, Blake Lively, with a gushing birthday message on Instagram on Wednesday, marking her 39th birthday. The social media post, featuring a collection of photos from their relationship, came hours after news surfaced regarding a court ruling on legal fees from Lively's settlement with actor Justin Baldoni.
Reynolds described Lively as "courageous" and "the very best human I know" in his tribute. The carousel of images included personal moments, such as family outings and casual selfies, showcasing the couple's relationship over the years. Reynolds, married to Lively for nearly 14 years, expressed his gratitude, stating, "I know how lucky I am that you were born. Every time I've ever hit my head, it's YOUR life that flashes before my eyes."
The couple, who met in 2010 on the set of "Green Lantern," share four children: James, Inez, Betty, and Olin. They married in September 2012.
Separately, it was reported that Lively would receive approximately $407,451.75 in legal fees from Justin Baldoni. This amount is a fraction of the $8 million she had sought following a settlement in a legal battle that began in late 2024. Lively had sued Baldoni and his production company for alleged sexual harassment and defamation on the set of "It Ends With Us." Baldoni subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times.
In October 2025, a judge dismissed Baldoni's lawsuit. In May of the current year, following the dismissal of most of Lively's claims, the parties agreed to settle her case. Lively then filed documents seeking to recoup her legal expenses, with her legal teams from Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips submitting claims totaling over $7.5 million, plus additional costs related to a recent hearing. A New York judge ruled that the billed hours by Lively's lawyers were "unreasonable" and criticized "discrepancies" in the expenses she sought to claim.