Ryan Reynolds Makes Awkward Reference to Blake Lively’s Legal Battle as Taylor Swift Texts Set for Release

Ryan Reynolds’ Legal Joke at Cannes Lions 2025 Sparks Buzz Amid Blake Lively’s Legal Battle
(Image: Ryan Reynolds speaking at Cannes Lions, caption: "Reynolds humorously referenced legal woes during his Cannes Lions panel.")

Ryan Reynolds stirred attention at the Cannes Lions 2025 festival with a tongue-in-cheek remark seemingly tied to his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing legal feud with her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. While promoting his soccer team, Wrexham AFC, Reynolds quipped, “I’m not throwing this [water bottle]. I’ve been around lawyers. You can walk up here and grab it,” sparking laughter and speculation about the jab’s connection to the high-profile lawsuit.

The Legal Saga Unpacked
The dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set—a claim he denied. Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated with a $250 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds. Baldoni also sued The New York Times over a December 2023 exposé detailing Lively’s allegations. While a judge recently dismissed Baldoni’s defamation case, his legal team secured access to Lively’s private texts with Taylor Swift, including messages where Lively referred to Swift as “my dragon” in an alleged attempt to intimidate Baldoni.

(Image: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on set, caption: "Lively and Baldoni co-starred in It Ends With Us before their legal clash.")

Taylor Swift Dragged Into the Drama
Swift’s involvement has intensified the feud. Baldoni’s lawyers withdrew a subpoena targeting Swift after her father, Scott Swift, voluntarily provided relevant communications to shield her from further legal entanglement. Sources claim Lively’s team allegedly pressured Swift to publicly support her, threatening to release personal texts—a claim Lively’s attorney denied as “categorically false.” The fallout has reportedly fractured Swift and Lively’s decade-long friendship, with Swift feeling “exploited” after private messages and a script meeting at Lively’s home were cited in court filings.

(Image: Taylor Swift performing, caption: "Swift’s private texts became a focal point in the legal battle.")

Scott Swift’s Role
Scott Swift, a key figure in managing his daughter’s career, intervened to protect her from the scandal. His cooperation with Baldoni’s team reportedly included sharing communications to avoid a prolonged court battle. This followed allegations that Lively’s lawyer attempted to “coerce” Swift into issuing a statement, which Lively’s camp dismissed as “baseless.”

Friendship Fallout and Celebrity Reactions
The rift between Swift and Lively has widened, with Swift’s inner circle, including boyfriend Travis Kelce and friend Gigi Hadid, reportedly distancing themselves from Lively. Meanwhile, Reynolds has publicly supported his wife, emphasizing unity through sports and entertainment during his Cannes speech: “We’re all feeling the same thing… It’s a beautiful thing to watch people come together.”

(Image: Blake Lively at an event, caption: "Lively has sought protective orders to limit access to her communications.")

Case Status
Though Baldoni’s defamation claims were dismissed, he continues pursuing charges of civil extortion and invasion of privacy. Lively’s legal team criticized Baldoni’s efforts as a distraction from the harassment allegations, stating, “We will continue to call out [his] relentless efforts to exploit Ms. Swift’s popularity.”

The case underscores the blurred lines between celebrity friendships, legal strategy, and media scrutiny, with Reynolds’ Cannes joke serving as a fleeting nod to the chaos behind the scenes.

(Image: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively together, caption: "Reynolds and Lively have navigated the lawsuit while maintaining public solidarity.")

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