Ryan Reynolds was spotted for the first time following his wife Blake Lively’s significant victory over Justin Baldoni as he made an appearance in New York City on Monday.
The 48-year-old Deadpool star looked to be in good spirits, after Baldoni’s $400million countersuit against him and Lively was dismissed.
The actor was seen taking a stroll with Deadpool director and longtime collaborator Shawn Levy, 56.
Reynolds kept it casual by wearing a blue short-sleeve button-up shirt, layered over a white tank top. He completed his laid-back ensemble with loose-fitting pants and a pair of white sneakers, while protecting his eyes with sunglasses.
Levy matched his laid-back look, rocking a plaid shirt, grey jeans and sneakers for their outing.
It comes shortly after Lively’s emotional response to the countersuit being dismissed was revealed.
The 48-year-old actor was seen in public for the first time since his wife, Blake Lively, achieved a major win against Justin Baldoni, as he ventured out in New York City on Monday.
In December 2024, the actress sued Baldoni for allegedly sexually harassing her on set – claims he denied – before Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios fired back with a defamation suit against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane and Ryan.
Baldoni also waged war with The New York Times, filing a $250million lawsuit against the publication over its bombshell tell-all on Lively’s sexual harassment claims against her former co-star on December 31, 2024.
As news broke that a judge had dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, the New York Times, Sloane and her PR firm Vision, a Lively insider said the star ‘cried with relief’ when she found out about the bombshell ruling.
The source exclusively told DailyMail.com of the actress’ reaction: ‘Complete elation from Blake’s world and a monkey off her back.’
‘Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now and all tears are happy tears.’
Judge Lewis J Liman has dismissed Baldoni’s suit alleging defamation and extortion on the basis that all Lively’s allegations were made within privileged court papers.
Liman said in the order obtained by DailyMail.com: ‘The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged.
‘The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign.
The Deadpool star looked to be in good spirits while taking a stroll with Deadpool director and longtime collaborator Shawn Levy, 56
It comes after Baldoni’s $400million countersuit against him and Lively was dismissed; Lively and Reynolds pictured in April in NYC
As news broke that a judge had dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit against, a Lively insider said the star ‘cried with relief’ when she found out about the bombshell ruling; Lively seen with Baldoni in January 2024
‘But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.
‘The Wayfarer Parties’ additional claims also fail. Accordingly, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.’
The judge ruled: ‘The Times reviewed the available evidence and reported, perhaps in a dramatized manner, what it believed to have happened. The Times had no obvious motive to favor Lively’s version of events.’
Liman, however, did state the Wayfarer Parties will be able to file a second amended complaint by June 23, 2025 but are only able to amend the allegations ‘relevant to the claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant.’
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios for comment but has yet to hear back.
Wayfarer Studios was founded by Baldoni and billionaire businessman Steve Sarowitz in 2019.
A statement obtained by DailyMail.com from Blake Lively’s lawyers read: ‘Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times.
‘As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.
‘We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.’
Liman also weighed in on the demands Lively sought on the set of It Ends With Us in order to prevent further discomfort on the set, with his opinion stating: ‘Even if they turn out to be unneeded, an employee can insist on protections at workplace for sexual harassment without being accused of extortion. If an employer accedes, it cannot later claim to be a victim of the employee’s wrongful threats.’
‘Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now and all tears are happy tears,’ source exclusively told DailyMail.com; She is seen with Reynolds in February
Additionally, Liman said of the allegation that Lively threatened to not promote the film unless her cut was released, among other requests: ‘There also is no allegation that Lively had a contractual obligation to promote the film; if not, there is no basis to assume that the value that she conveyed in terms of her willingness to promote represented anything other than a fair trade for the Wayfarer Parties’ willingness to use her cut.’
The court said that although statements made by Reynolds and Sloan were “extraneous” or outside of the complaint, Baldoni failed to allege facts that they were made with actual malice, or that Reynolds and Sloane either knew their statements were false or acted in reckless disregard of their veracity.
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni officially erupted last year after rumors of tension between the two, with the actress accusing her co-star of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, allegations Baldoni denied.
In her lawsuit, Lively named a number of Baldoni’s collaborators, including his company Wayfarer Studios, the studio’s CEO and financial backer, and PR personnel Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
‘I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,’ Lively told The New York Times the day after she filed the complaint.
Baldoni has denied the allegations brought about by Lively, while Lively, Reynolds and Sloane have denied the accusations made in litigation by Baldoni.
Baldoni’s team has released a website which includes private communications such as text messages that were included in court filings detailing his interactions with the Hollywood power couple over the making of the romantic drama.
He claimed in court filings they made efforts to usurp and undermine his input as the director of It Ends with Us.
Baldoni’s team previously said that the communications shared in court filings on the website makes things clear about the motives of both parties.
The website, which is live online at thelawsuitinfo.com, comes amid a spate of high-profile litigation between the collaborators on the film, which was a hit at the box office last August.
Lively filed an 80-page civil rights complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni on December 20, before officially filing a federal lawsuit on December 31.
