Justin Baldoni on Dec. 13, 2023; Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on Feb. 16, 2025.Photo:Dia Dipasupil/Getty; John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Dia Dipasupil/Getty; John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Justin Baldoni’s attorney is sharing his take onBlake LivelyandRyan Reynoldsreturning to the spotlight together amid the ongoingIt Ends With Uslegal battle.At the star-studded live taping ofSNL50: The Anniversary Specialheld Sunday, Feb. 16 in New York City,Reynolds, 48, and Lively, 37, posed on the red carpet togetherand took in the show from the audience.In one moment during the show, Reynoldsseemingly referenced their headline-making lawsuitswith Baldoni when he was asked from the stage, “How’s it going?” and the actor, with Lively seated beside him, responded, “Great, why? What have you heard?” before moving on with the bit.While on an episode ofHot Mics with Billy Bushrecorded Feb. 17, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman called the couple’s public appearance the “latest move” from her team.“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation,” said Freedman. “I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that. It surprised me.“Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via GettyFreedman added that Baldoni, 41, is “hopeful” about the situation and said he wouldn’t classify the star’s recent trip to Hawaii with his wife and kids as “vacation.““I wouldn’t call it vacation. I don’t think anybody who has been accused of heinous, arguably what are crimes is on ‘vacation,’ " said Freedman. “I think he is trying to gather with his family and get some semblance of peace.“In December, Lively sued herIt Ends With Usdirector and costar Baldoni, plus his PR team and members of his Wayfarer Studios company, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, which he denies. Baldoni responded with a lawsuit of his own in January, suing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist andThe New York Times,alleging defamation and extortion.Justin Baldoni on Aug. 6, 2024.John Nacion/Variety via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Herlawyers have called his lawsuit “meritless"and said, in part, “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim.“They added at the time, “In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Justin Baldoni’s attorney is sharing his take onBlake LivelyandRyan Reynoldsreturning to the spotlight together amid the ongoingIt Ends With Uslegal battle.
At the star-studded live taping ofSNL50: The Anniversary Specialheld Sunday, Feb. 16 in New York City,Reynolds, 48, and Lively, 37, posed on the red carpet togetherand took in the show from the audience.
In one moment during the show, Reynoldsseemingly referenced their headline-making lawsuitswith Baldoni when he was asked from the stage, “How’s it going?” and the actor, with Lively seated beside him, responded, “Great, why? What have you heard?” before moving on with the bit.
While on an episode ofHot Mics with Billy Bushrecorded Feb. 17, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman called the couple’s public appearance the “latest move” from her team.
“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation,” said Freedman. “I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that. It surprised me.”
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty
NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty
Freedman added that Baldoni, 41, is “hopeful” about the situation and said he wouldn’t classify the star’s recent trip to Hawaii with his wife and kids as “vacation.”
“I wouldn’t call it vacation. I don’t think anybody who has been accused of heinous, arguably what are crimes is on ‘vacation,’ " said Freedman. “I think he is trying to gather with his family and get some semblance of peace.”
In December, Lively sued herIt Ends With Usdirector and costar Baldoni, plus his PR team and members of his Wayfarer Studios company, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, which he denies. Baldoni responded with a lawsuit of his own in January, suing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist andThe New York Times,alleging defamation and extortion.
Justin Baldoni on Aug. 6, 2024.John Nacion/Variety via Getty
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Herlawyers have called his lawsuit “meritless"and said, in part, “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim.”
They added at the time, “In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
source: people.com
