When Blake Lively accused her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, the shocking claims made headlines around the world.
But now, in an explosive lawsuit filed by Baldoni, the actor-turned-director is firing back, alleging that Lively’s accusations were part of a calculated smear campaign—one orchestrated with the help of her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Far from the affable, quick-witted star he’s known to be, Reynolds is portrayed in the lawsuit as a behind-the-scenes enforcer who allegedly used threats and intimidation to push Baldoni out of his own film and silence his defence.
Candace Owens Weighs In
Amid the unfolding drama, conservative commentator Candace Owens has weighed in, giving her take on the feud.
Owens, known for her polarising opinions, claimed in a post on Instagram that Ryan Reynolds was the “true villain” in the situation.
She cited a tip from someone allegedly working on the It Ends With Us set, who claimed that Reynolds’ interference began after he reportedly reviewed dailies for the film.
According to Owens, Reynolds “strolled onto the set one day, took a look at the script, and something set him off.”
Owens further alleged that Reynolds and Lively had a confrontation in private, which led to Reynolds demanding that Baldoni be dropped from his agency’s roster.
Owens even suggested that 48-year-old Reynolds’ insecurity, partially stemming from his age gap with his younger wife, 37, may have fuelled his actions.
She also pulled from past interviews, including comments from Reynolds’ ex-wife, Scarlett Johansson, who had hinted that Reynolds’ jealousy played a role in their marriage’s breakdown.
According to Owens, the narrative surrounding the couple’s involvement in this case revealed much more about Reynolds’ character than his public persona.
A Power Struggle Behind the Scenes
According to Baldoni’s lawsuit, Reynolds played a pivotal role in applying pressure on Baldoni, 41, after Lively’s alleged PR missteps resulted in a wave of public backlash.
Instead of taking responsibility, Baldoni claims that Lively and Reynolds turned their attention to him—demanding he issue a public apology for vague “mistakes” or face serious consequences.
When Baldoni refused to comply, the lawsuit alleges Reynolds personally confronted him in a heated encounter, accusing him of “fat-shaming” Lively after he had privately inquired about her weight for a planned lift scene in the movie.
Sources close to the production claim that Reynolds, leveraging his powerful Hollywood connections, allegedly called Baldoni’s agent and used the term “sexual predator” to describe him—an accusation that Baldoni vehemently denies and says is part of a broader scheme to destroy his career.
The Fallout from the Alleged Harassment
This isn’t the first time Reynolds’ involvement in a project has raised eyebrows.
The actor, known for his keen sense of humor, has faced scrutiny for his portrayal of certain characters, particularly his role as the irreverent and sarcastic anti-hero in Deadpool.
In fact, Reynolds is now accused of mocking Baldoni through his character Nicepool, a variant of Deadpool who is ultimately killed off due to his lack of mutant abilities.
As part of Baldoni’s lawsuit, his lawyers sent a litigation hold letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, demanding that all communications regarding Reynolds and the Deadpool franchise be preserved.
The letter also specifically requested that documents be retained regarding the development of the Nicepool character, particularly any communications that may suggest Reynolds’ deliberate attempt to link Nicepool to Baldoni in a mocking or ridiculing way.
Baldoni and his team claim this could be another instance of Reynolds using his Hollywood clout to disparage and undermine him, continuing the pressure campaign from behind the scenes.
