Blake Lively Might’ve Subtly Responded to Rumors She Settled Justin Baldoni Suit So She Wouldn’t ‘Lose Her Marriage’ to Ryan Reynolds
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have seemingly subtly responded to ongoing rumors about trouble in their marriage.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Deadpool actor posted a new selfie of the couple on his Instagram Story. In the photo, shared by TMZ, Reynolds offered a soft smile while leaning toward a makeup-free Lively, who titled her head toward her husband. Lively also smiled brightly and had her hand in Reynold’s hair. The actor also added the Millie Jackson’s song “Here You Come Again” to the post.
This post came just one day after Lively settled her years-long legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. According to reports, the actress ultimately chose to put an end to it after Reynolds seemingly encouraged her to resolve the matter because it was harming their careers and reputations.
Lively initially refused but eventually agreed to settle, with the alleged strain in her marriage to Reynolds playing a major role in her decision.
“The realization hit her all at once,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice Substack. “She had already lost too much—professionally, personally, publicly. The one thing she refused to lose was her marriage.”
Just hours after the settlement was finalized, Lively stepped out for a solo appearance at the 2026 Met Gala. She last attended the event in 2022, when she co-chaired alongside Reynolds, Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In a May 8 report, Shuter claimed that Lively’s Met Gala return wasn’t as seamless as it appeared. Sources suggested that several prominent fashion houses refused to dress her for the gala.
“This wasn’t about designers being afraid of looking mean,” one insider said. “It was about not wanting to look like they were backing a mean girl.”
Another added, “Blake’s brand has absolutely collapsed in certain fashion circles. A few years ago, having Blake wear your gown was considered a huge win. Now some designers think it hurts more than it helps.”
A fashion insider further claimed that multiple big-name labels and designers were hesitant to work with Lively as they feared that dressing her could bring negative attention to their brands.
“Luxury brands are obsessed with image,” they explained. “Right now, Blake comes with baggage, drama, and polarization—and fashion houses hate distraction.”
Eventually, Anna Wintour intervened and helped Lively secure a seat at her table. She also reassured designers that the Gossip Girl alum remained in good standing within the fashion industry and urged them not to distance themselves from her amid the legal drama.
“Once Anna publicly backed Blake, the resistance softened immediately,” a source said. “Without her, Blake probably doesn’t get through the door in the same way.”
