Ryan Reynolds can't help but gush over his wife, the Deadpool star made a rare comment on Blake Lively's ongoing legal battle against her It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni, hinting that the public hasn't seen the full story. "You really see kind of the illusion behind so much of this stuff, you know? Digital life versus real life," Reynolds told Today on April 19. "I'll just say, I've never in my life been more proud of my wife."
The actor—who shares kids James, 11, Inez, 9, Betty, 6, and Olin, 3, with Lively—continued, "People have no idea what's really going on, you know? And I've just never in my life been more proud of someone with that level of integrity that brings that with them and carries that with them in everything that they do."
Unsealed text messages and emails between the couple also show how Reynolds backed the Gossip Girl actress during the movie's production. His rep confirmed to Puck News in January, "Yes, Ryan got involved—what husband wouldn't support his wife and the mother of his children?" "He saw his wife fighting daily to stand up against sexual harassment in a private and respectful way, only to face retaliation for doing so," the rep said. "If anything, Ryan feels like he wasn't angry enough."
Lively is now taking her case against Baldoni—who denies all allegations against him—to trial, though a judge dismissed most of her claims earlier this month. A New York judge dismissed 10 of the 13 counts against Baldoni and his associates, including Lively's allegations of sexual harassment, in part because she was an independent contractor instead of an employee. The Age of Adeline actress will present her remaining claims—accusations of retaliation, breach of contract, and aiding and abetting retaliation—to a jury when the scheduled trial begins on May 18.
"The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit," Lively said in an April 3 statement posted on her Instagram Story. "But I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to face, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others."
The 38-year-old continued, "I hope the Court's decision shows others that, as unfathomably painful as it is, you can speak up." Lively hopes that fans who relate to her experience will see her as a fellow human being and not just a celebrity. "The constant packaging of this lawsuit as a 'Celebrity Drama' is not only irresponsible but is by design: to keep you from seeing yourselves in my story," she added. "The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it's everywhere."
As for Baldoni, his lawyer said in an April 3 statement to TMZ that the Jane the Virgin alum and his co-defendants are "not afraid of the truth," adding, "The plan was not only to speak the truth but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence."
