Ryan Reynolds Demanded Sony Defend Blake Lively Amidst 'It Ends With Us' Backlash

Ryan Reynolds actively sought Sony Pictures' support to defend his wife, Blake Lively, as she faced significant public backlash during the promotion of the film "It Ends With Us." According to private text messages obtained by Page Six, Reynolds expressed his dissatisfaction with the studio's perceived inaction.

The messages, filed as part of court documents related to a legal dispute between Lively and co-star Justin Baldoni and acquired by Page Six on Friday, date back to August 17, 2024. In a conversation with talent agent Warren Zavala, Reynolds reportedly criticized Sony for not issuing a public statement to support Lively.

At the time of the exchange, Lively, 39, was drawing criticism for her promotional methods for the film, which dealt with themes of domestic violence. Her remarks, such as urging fans to "Grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it," were met with accusations of insensitivity. She also faced claims that she used the press tour to promote her personal brands, including a haircare and beverage line.

Reynolds, 49, conveyed to Zavala that Sony needed to release a statement and "start advocating" for Lively, particularly as rumors about her alleged on-set behavior began to circulate. Zavala suggested alternative strategies, such as encouraging others to share positive anecdotes about Lively, while acknowledging that Baldoni's team might be preparing to use information to portray Lively negatively.

In response, Reynolds expressed his frustration, stating, "They need to frame it the right way! This isn’t hard. The sentence needs to start with… feels like they’re trying to thread the needle. They just need to go f–king straight at this."

Reynolds further insisted that Sony attribute the negative press to "a systematic and coordinated campaign by a crisis PR team." He accused the studio of abandoning Lively, calling their actions "unforgivable." He indicated that he had drafted a statement for Sony himself, which was not released.

"This needs to be addressed immediately. This is the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in this business," Reynolds reportedly wrote. "Sony needs to step up for real. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

Reynolds also stated that Baldoni, 42, "needs to see that an entire studio knows what he’s doing." When Zavala mentioned Sony was "covering their ass" due to potential "exposure," Reynolds asserted that the company's "backs are against the wall."

Earlier, on August 9, Reynolds had communicated to Zavala his "super frustrated" feelings regarding the online criticism Lively was enduring, especially considering the personal sacrifices she made for the film, including "missed countless moments with her kids."

"They should be protecting B," Reynolds stated, referring to Lively. "They can and should accept the consequences of their actions, and lean into the countless and willfully gross behavior before it leans into them. They made a big f–king mess."

He added that Lively "under no circumstances should be asked to clean up this sloppy, cliched f–kstorm."

Sony eventually issued a statement in support of Lively in December 2024, following her public accusations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her by Baldoni, who directed and starred in the film. A spokesperson for Sony Pictures Entertainment affirmed their "full and firm" support for Lively and condemned any "reputational attacks."

The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, initially slated for trial in May, was settled two weeks prior. While 10 of Lively's 13 claims against Baldoni were dismissed, neither party received financial compensation in the settlement. Lively's subsequent request for substantial attorneys' fees and costs was significantly reduced by the court in August.