Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds recently stepped back into the public eye after months of maintaining a low profile.
The Hollywood power couple made their first public appearance in over two months
as they attended a star-studded event celebrating Chris Rock’s 60th birthday at The Crane Club in New York City.
Shortly after, they graced the red carpet for the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live at Rockefeller Center.
Their return to the spotlight comes amid an ongoing legal battle between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
The actress, 37, filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, 41, in December, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The situation has since escalated, with both parties embroiled in legal disputes over subpoenas, privacy concerns, and defamation claims.
A Public Comeback Amid Legal Tensions
Lively and Reynolds, 48, were among the many A-list attendees at Chris Rock’s birthday celebration, where they posed for a photo with legendary comedian Chevy Chase. Chase later shared the image on Instagram, captioning it with fond memories of his time with Rock and reflecting on how the night reminded him of his late friend, Richard Pryor.
Following the birthday gathering, the couple made their long-awaited red carpet return at SNL’s 50th-anniversary special, held at Studio 8H in New York City. Lively dazzled in a sparkling silver Tamara Ralph gown, while Reynolds looked sharp in a classic suit. Their presence at the event marked their first high-profile outing since early December when they were last spotted together at a Wicked premiere.
However, their public reappearance did not go unnoticed by social media users. Some fans took issue with Chase’s selection of photos, with one user sarcastically commenting, “Did you hire an intimacy coordinator for that picture with Blake? Hope you recorded everything in case you get sued.” Others criticized Lively and Reynolds for allegedly supporting “Hollywood bullies,” referencing the ongoing legal battle with Baldoni.
The Lawsuit: A Heated Courtroom Clash
Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni has sparked a legal storm, with new developments surfacing in recent weeks. The Gossip Girl actress and her legal team recently subpoenaed Baldoni’s phone records, alleging that they could expose methods he used in an alleged smear campaign against her. The request reportedly aims to uncover communications that may demonstrate efforts to damage her reputation following the alleged harassment on set.
However, Baldoni’s attorneys pushed back against the subpoena, calling it “flagrantly overbroad” and “highly invasive.” In a motion filed last week, his legal team argued that the request resembles an FBI investigation rather than a standard civil lawsuit. The subpoena reportedly seeks extensive data, including Baldoni’s call and text history, real-time location information, and even web browsing activity spanning multiple years.
“It is hard to overstate how broad, invasive, and atypical these subpoenas truly are,” the motion stated. “This is civil litigation, not a criminal prosecution, and the Lively Parties are not the FBI.”
Baldoni’s lawyers also expressed concern that the subpoena could compromise the privacy of numerous third parties, including family members, business partners, and anyone who has communicated with Baldoni over the past several years. They argued that the requested data was “wildly disproportionate” to the needs of the case and accused Lively’s team of attempting to overreach.
Baldoni Fires Back with Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuits
While Lively continues to press forward with her claims, Baldoni has launched his own counterattacks. On the same day Lively filed her federal lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The suit was in response to an article that alleged he had orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively.
Weeks later, Baldoni escalated the legal battle by filing a separate $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds. In this case, he accused the couple of attempting to hijack It Ends With Us and twist the film’s narrative to suit their own agenda. Baldoni, who not only starred in but also directed the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, has denied all allegations against him.
What’s Next for Lively, Reynolds, and Baldoni?
As the legal fight intensifies, both sides show no signs of backing down. Lively and Reynolds have refused mediation, while Baldoni remains firm in his defense, claiming he is being unfairly targeted. The case is expected to move forward with further legal motions and court proceedings in the coming months.
Despite the legal turmoil, Lively and Reynolds’ recent public outings suggest they are ready to re-engage with Hollywood’s social scene while continuing to fight their battle in court. Whether their return to the public eye signals a shift in their legal strategy or simply a desire to maintain their public presence remains to be seen.
For now, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely as one of Hollywood’s most talked-about legal disputes unfolds.
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