Movies

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Unite on SNL50 Red Carpet Amid Lawsuit Scandal

BBG News

On Sunday, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds made their first appearance together on the red carpet in approximately two months, following the controversy involving Justin Baldoni that surfaced towards the end of last year.

Despite the recent scandals that have been ongoing for several months, the influential pair from Hollywood presented a harmonious image as they graced the SNL50: The Anniversary Special held at Rockefeller Plaza.

In a legal claim, Lively alleges that Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment. On the other hand, Baldoni countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane for defamation and extortion in a lawsuit worth $400 million.

In simpler terms, Baldoni refutes the claims made by Lively, whereas Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane all deny the accusations leveled against Baldoni in court.

Baldoni’s group unveiled a site displaying confidential correspondences, like text messages, that were part of legal documents. These communications revealed his dealings with the prominent Hollywood duo concerning the production of their romantic drama. In court papers, he asserted that they attempted to override and challenge his authority as director of It Ends with Us.

Following Amazon’s Prime Video sharing a promotional post for Another Simple Favor on February 5th, some viewers suggested that Lively may have exerted her power over Feig, who is 62 years old, regarding that film. This prompted the director to address these rumors.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Feig and his rep for further comment on this story.

Director Feig, known for movies like Bridesmaids (2011), Ghostbusters (2016), and the upcoming Jackpot! (2024), asserted that he had complete creative control over the film, stating, “This is my version of the movie. There isn’t any other version… just wanted to make that clear.

In his response, Feig lavished heartfelt compliments on Lively, a colleague he had collaborated with during the making of “A Simple Favor” in 2018.

The Emmy-nominated director praised Blake, stating she’s been a joy to work with and incredibly supportive. He considers her the best in the business, an exceptional team player, and his biggest fan.

Many supporters of the director voiced their disapproval as he defended Lively, given the accusations against him that were presented in court documents and online by Baldoni.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself compelled to share my perspective with you, Paul. While it may seem tempting to brush off the criticisms as mere ramblings from an eccentric group, it’s important to note that Blake and Ryan did leverage their influence significantly in the situation involving Justin. It’s a situation that, frankly, leaves me feeling quite disheartened. I hope this serves as a reminder of your own humble beginnings in this industry, and encourages you to navigate your path with integrity and resilience.

Others mentioned to Feig that since he is well-known and respected in the industry as a seasoned professional, he might not experience the strong-arming and interfering that Lively reportedly subjected Baldoni to concerning the script, costumes, and editing of “It Ends with Us”.

One user commented: ‘Given your extensive experience in directing, it’s only natural that Blake wouldn’t dare encroach upon your territory.’ However, she strategically targets newcomer directors, trying to exert influence through her husband in an attempt to dominate them.

She wouldn’t dare treat you in such a manner, so it’s only natural for her qualities to be seen as admirable, wonderful, and kind.

A different user put it this way: ‘By continuing to support Blake, you’re actually strengthening the impression that she is more courteous towards influential directors like yourself and less considerate towards others who she perceives as lesser.’

Another repeated, ‘You seem to be a decent individual, but it’s fortunate for you that Blake chose not to torment you and keep you hidden away. He or she respected you, as you are not insignificant.’

‘But good luck with this show. It’s dead in the water.’

Several users mentioned in Feig’s post that Baldoni stated in legal documents that Lively intentionally kept his attendance at the premiere of “The It Ends With Us” to a minimum, according to court filings.

One user advised, “Watch out, you could find yourself in the basement during the premiere,” while another replied, “Be cautious Paul, it’s possible that you might end up in the basement on the premiere date.

On Tuesday, Feig shared a standalone update, as it was announced that the movie penned by Jessica Sharzer would inaugurate the SXSW Film and TV Festival taking place in Austin, Texas, starting next month.

Feig mentioned in the post, ‘I have a small request for you… Could you mark your calendar?’ In reference to ‘#AnotherSimpleFavor’, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, which will debut as the opening film at SXSW in Austin on March 7th. Afterward, it will be available on Prime Video on May 1st. Keep an eye out for additional information and more exciting updates!

Amazon Prime Video’s message stated, ‘We’d like to make a humble request… would you kindly mark your calendar? The premiere event is happening at SXSW, on the first day of May, only on Prime Video.’

In the follow-up to their 2018 movie “A Simple Favor,” both stars – Kendrick and another lively actor – will be back, taking on their previous characters, Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers, respectively.

The sequel continues the story with Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson traveling to the picturesque Italian island of Capri, where Emily is set to marry a wealthy Italian entrepreneur.

As an over-the-moon fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the star-studded lineup in this upcoming movie! Alongside the leading actors, we have Allison Janney, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Henry Golding, and Andrew Rannells joining the cast. This ensemble is truly a dream come true for me!

A multitude of comments, related to accusations made by Baldoni in legal documents and a connected online platform, poured into both the Prime Video forum and Feig’s (presumably another social media platform).

One user inquired, “Did Ryan change a particular scene?”, another jokingly commented, “Could it be that the poster is also advertising Ryan’s gin?”, and a third user questioned, “Is this the original version, or did Blake alter it?

In Baldoni’s court submission, others have mentioned a text conversation where Lively compared Reynolds and Swift to the dragons from Game of Thrones. One person asked, “How deeply are Blake’s dragons involved in this matter?”, while another questioned, “Will there be any dragons present?

Some admitted that they were merely contributing to the conversation due to the intriguing nature of the circumstances. As one user put it, they “hurriedly joined the comment section” amid the heated debates, while another inquired, “Who only visited for the comments?

I overheard someone commenting with a chuckle, “This timing for the promotion couldn’t be worse,” and another individual forecasted, “I think they’ll soon disable comments.

From my perspective as a lifestyle expert, the recent court filings, now publicly accessible and sparking conversations among fans, shed light on the underlying intentions of both parties involved. This latest instalment serves as another intriguing chapter in the ongoing saga between the leading figures of It Ends with Us.

The website found at thelawsuitinfo.com has been launched recently, as a series of significant lawsuits unfold among the movie’s creators who achieved success at the box office last August.

The website became active several days before the rescheduled preliminary hearing, originally set for February 12 but moved forward, that took place on Monday. This hearing precedes the trial scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026, in this particular case.

Or:

The site was launched a few days ahead of the new court date on Monday, which had been brought forward from its original schedule on February 12. This was prior to the start of the trial set for March 9, 2026, in this specific case.

On December 20th, Lively submitted a 80-page civil rights claim to the California Civil Rights Department, preceding the formal filing of a federal lawsuit which took place on December 31st against Baldoni.

In December, Lively (previously known as Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl) filed a lawsuit against Baldoni due to allegations of sexual harassment during the filming of their movie. The lawsuit claimed that Baldoni sexually harassed her in various ways, including making disparaging comments about her body, and orchestrating a plan to tarnish her reputation by spreading false information about her.

In response to the lawsuit, Baldoni and his representatives argue that Lively distorted the true meaning of text messages exchanged between them and intentionally misled the public regarding their film collaboration conversations.

In her legal action, Lively pointed out several individuals who worked with Baldoni, such as Wayfarer Studios (the production company), its CEO and primary investor, as well as public relations representatives Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

In a conversation with The New York Times, she expressed her optimism that this legal action will unveil these underhanded strategies aimed at punishing individuals who expose wrongdoing, thereby shielding others who might face similar situations in the future.

Following the publication of a December 21 article titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Uncovering a Hollywood Slander Apparatus,” Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the newspaper for defamation, seeking $250 million in damages. However, the newspaper has refuted these allegations.

On January 16, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit, accusing Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane of defamation and extortion. He claims that the three individuals fabricated ‘allegations of sexual harassment’ against him, which he denies in court.

After Lively’s grievance was lodged, Baldoni has encountered several career repercussions, such as being sued by a previous publicist, and losing representation by the agency WME, which represents both Lively and Reynolds.

According to Variety, WME has refuted allegations that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pressured them into removing Baldoni from their list of clients.

Both legal teams agreed on a strategy to merge the two federal lawsuits they’re handling, aiming for a single case from hereon. However, all involved parties in the court proceedings have vehemently refuted the accusations levied against them.

The movie “It Ends with Us,” featuring Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar, and Kevin McKidd, premiered on August 9 and was well-received by viewers. Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, this film generated $148 million at the U.S. box office and a total worldwide gross of $350 million, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

2005 saw Blake Lively make a lively debut in the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” alongside Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera. This breakthrough role propelled her to prominence, leading to her starring as the lead character Serena van der Woodsen on the popular TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012.

Apart from that, she has been featured in films like “The Town” (released in 2010), “The Shallows” (2016), “A Simple Favor” (2018), and “The Rhythm Section” (2020).

Before embarking on “It Ends with Us,” I was primarily recognized for my portrayal of Rafael Solano on the television series “Jane the Virgin” from 2014 to 2019. Beyond acting, I’ve ventured into directing films like “Five Feet Apart” in 2019 and “Clouds” in 2020. Additionally, I authored the book “Man Enough,” published in 2021, which delves into the misunderstandings surrounding modern masculinity.

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2025-02-17 04:05

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