Ryan Reynolds is seemingly giving fans a glimpse at a happier chapter for Blake Lively following the end of her long-running legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
On May 5, the “Deadpool” actor shared a cozy selfie with Lively on his Instagram Stories just one day after news broke that the actress had settled her lawsuit tied to “It Ends With Us.” In the casual photo, the couple smiled closely together outdoors while Millie Jackson’s “Here You Come Again” played over the image.
Lively appeared makeup-free in the snap and rested her hand against Reynolds’ head as they posed together, with the relaxed moment seemingly hinting that the couple is focused on moving forward after months of headlines surrounding the case.
According to Page Six, the settlement came just weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial on May 18. In a joint statement, Lively and Baldoni said, “The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life.”
The statement also said, “Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.”
Both sides acknowledged that the legal process “presented challenges” and shared that they hoped the resolution would allow everyone “to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
Per reports, neither Lively nor Baldoni received settlement money as part of the agreement.
Reports Claim Reynolds Helped Keep Focus on Moving Forward
A separate report from The U.S. Sun claimed Reynolds encouraged Lively to settle the case after seeing how much the lengthy legal fight was allegedly affecting her personal life and public image.
Citing celebrity publicist Rob Shuter’s Substack, the report claimed Reynolds “saw the full picture early on” and believed the longer the lawsuit continued, “the more it would erode everything; her career, her reputation, even their closest relationships.”
Another source quoted in the report alleged the situation eventually became deeply personal for Lively. “It wasn’t about winning anymore — it was about proving she was right,” the source claimed.
The report also referenced speculation surrounding Lively’s friendship with Taylor Swift after the singer’s name became indirectly tied to the public fallout surrounding the case.
The legal battle first began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni denied the allegations and later filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane. The countersuit was later dismissed.
Last month, several of Lively’s claims against Baldoni, including sexual harassment and defamation, were dismissed by a federal judge. However, claims involving breach of contract and retaliation were still expected to move forward before the settlement was reached.
Blake Lively Returned to the Met Gala After Settlement News
Just hours after the settlement became public, Lively stepped out at the 2026 Met Gala in New York City, making her return to fashion’s biggest night after previously skipping recent years.
Per Us Weekly, the actress wore a pastel Atelier Versace gown featuring gemstone embroidery and a dramatic train. She also carried a customized Judith Leiber bag featuring artwork created by the couple’s four children.
While Reynolds did not attend the event, Lively’s appearance marked one of her first major public outings following the settlement announcement.
For now, Reynolds’ selfie appeared to offer a quieter but meaningful update on the couple as they move past a difficult chapter together.
