Blake Lively, a prominent figure in Hollywood since her Gossip Girl days, faces intense scrutiny amid legal battles and public controversies. Her lawsuits against It Ends with Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusations of exploiting social movements, and Ryan Reynolds’ public jabs at Baldoni paint a complex picture. Coupled with claims about Taylor Swift’s involvement, a controversial TIME100 speech referencing her mother’s assault, and a tarnished reputation from past interviews, Lively’s pursuit of A-list status raises questions about her motives and methods.
A B-Lister with A-List Ambitions
Blake Lively’s career trajectory reflects a calculated climb toward Hollywood’s elite. Her breakout role in Gossip Girl (2007–2012) made her a household name, but the transition from television to blockbuster films proved challenging. Films like The Town (2010) and Savages (2012) showcased her potential, yet she never secured the consistent, high-profile roles that define A-list stars like Jennifer Lawrence or Scarlett Johansson. Her most notable cinematic success, A Simple Favor (2018), leaned heavily on her charisma, but the film’s modest box office haul didn’t catapult her to the top tier.
Legal Battles and Allegations of Bullying
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, followed by a federal lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign during It Ends with Us (2024) production. She claimed Baldoni made inappropriate comments and violated physical boundaries, necessitating a full-time intimacy coordinator. Her lawsuit cited texts from Baldoni’s publicist allegedly planning to “bury” her, accusing his team of a “social manipulation campaign.”
Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit, filed in January 2025, alleges Lively fabricated harassment claims to recover from backlash over her It Ends with Us promotional tour, which critics said downplayed domestic violence. Baldoni’s team claims she bullied her way into creative control, threatening to halt production unless her demands, like script rewrites, were met. They argue she leveraged #MeToo rhetoric to pressure Baldoni and Wayfarer into ceding sequel rights to It Starts with Us. Texts allegedly show Lively calling herself “Khaleesi,” with Reynolds and Swift as her “dragons,” implying she used their influence to intimidate Baldoni.
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— Colonel Kurtz -PopCulture/ Politics/ MarilynManson (@colonelkurtz99) January 16, 2025
Seriously WTF
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
BLAKE LIVELY CALLED HERSELF
“Khaleesi” from Game of Thrones
and basically THREATENED
JUSTIN Baldoni with her “dragons” (famous peeps Ryan Reynolds & Taylor Swift…
This woman is a delusional pompous menace. pic.twitter.com/mkYQgSqkz1
Exploiting #MeToo for Sequel Rights?
Baldoni’s lawsuit claims Lively used her allegations to seize control of the It Ends with Us sequel. Having secured the novel’s rights in 2019, Baldoni held sequel rights, but Lively allegedly misled author Colleen Hoover by claiming abuse, convincing Hoover to back her bid for control. Posts on X and Baldoni’s filings suggest Lively adopted feminist rhetoric to advance her agenda, a tactic his team compares to accusations against others for “weaponizing feminism.” Lively’s lawsuit references a “scenario planning document” from Baldoni’s publicist proposing to plant stories about Lively’s circle, including Swift, using such tactics. Lively’s team calls this evidence of a smear campaign, but Baldoni’s attorneys argue it exposes her manipulation. The sequel remains unconfirmed amid the legal dispute.
Ryan Reynolds’ Public Jabs: Nicepool and SNL
Ryan Reynolds has been accused of mocking Baldoni through Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). The character Nicepool, played by Reynolds and credited to “Gordon Reynolds,” sports a man-bun like Baldoni’s and makes remarks echoing Baldoni’s feminist persona, such as praising Ladypool (voiced by Lively) for her post-baby body. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, called Nicepool a “defamatory” portrayal, alleging Reynolds used his influence to target Baldoni. A deleted scene on TikTok shows Nicepool joking about monetizing the women’s movement, a jab at Baldoni’s The Man Enough podcast. Baldoni’s team subpoenaed Marvel and Disney for Nicepool’s development records.
The more I learn about Nicepool’s character, the more evident it becomes that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively were mocking Justin Baldoni in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie. Here are all the scenes where Nicepool is imitating Justin Baldoni 🧵
— The Spiritual Shift (@spiritualshift_) January 8, 2025
(1) In this scene, Nicepool,… pic.twitter.com/gdQpCvBvcH
Reynolds also stirred controversy during the SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025. In a skit with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, when asked, “How’s it going?” Reynolds replied, “Great! Why, what have you heard?”—a quip seen as referencing Lively’s lawsuit. Baldoni’s lawyer criticized Reynolds for joking about harassment, noting, “I’m unaware of anybody whose wife has been harassed and makes jokes about it.” An SNL spokesperson said the joke was scripted by the show, but it drew backlash for trivializing serious allegations, with attendees like Kevin Costner reportedly uncomfortable.
Taylor Swift’s Alleged Involvement
Lively’s claims about Taylor Swift’s role in It Ends with Us have sparked controversy. Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges Lively invited him to her New York home in 2023 to discuss script changes, where Swift and Reynolds appeared, endorsing Lively’s revisions. Lively allegedly texted Baldoni, calling Swift and Reynolds her “dragons” to ensure she was “seen and utilized.” Actress Isabela Ferrer claimed at the premiere that Swift was “a helpful part of the audition,” a statement Lively reportedly backed. Swift’s team denied this, stating she only licensed “My Tears Ricochet” for the film and had no role in casting or creative decisions. Swift’s representatives called Baldoni’s subpoena of her “tabloid clickbait” and said she felt “used” by Lively, straining their friendship.
1/ Did you know Taylor Swift used her influence to help Isabella Ferrer land the role of young Lily Bloom in the movie It Ends With Us? Here’s Isabella admitting Taylor got her the audition:🧵 pic.twitter.com/BTZQpjUHsf
— The Spiritual Shift (@spiritualshift_) January 19, 2025
TIME100 Honor and Missteps
At the TIME100 Gala in April 2025, where Lively was honored as one of the 100 most influential people, her speech drew criticism. She referenced her legal battle with Baldoni and praised her mother as a “survivor” of assault, framing it as part of her advocacy. Some interpreted this as an attempt to tie her honor to broader social justice causes, including issues affecting Black communities. Critics called this disingenuous, as her recognition was for industry influence, not activism. Posts on X and media outlets accused her of exploiting her mother’s trauma to bolster her image amid the lawsuit, a move seen as tone-deaf. No public records confirm the nature of her mother’s assault, adding to skepticism about her motives.
A Reputation Marred by Interviews
Resurfaced interviews have damaged Lively’s image. A 2016 interview posted by journalist Kjersti Flaa, titled “The Blake Lively Interview That Made Me Want to Quit My Job,” showed Lively sarcastically commenting on Flaa’s “little bump” after a pregnancy congratulations, despite Flaa not being pregnant. The video, with over 6 million YouTube views, fueled perceptions of Lively as unkind. Another It Ends with Us press tour interview showed her as dismissive, reinforcing narratives of her being difficult. Baldoni’s lawsuit notes Wayfarer Studios knew of her “reputation for being difficult” before casting her.
The ‘It Ends With Us’ drama isn’t just onscreen.
— Eric B (@Oflululemon) January 3, 2025
Kjersti Flaa on Blake Lively:
‘She looked like a homeless person. And that HAIR! Couldn’t they have used a more flattering tone of red?’
Sometimes the behind-the-scenes tea is better than the movie ☕️👇 @THR pic.twitter.com/eCDv5btyPx
Final Thoughts
Blake Lively’s legal battles and public missteps reveal a star whose ambition may border on manipulation. Her lawsuits against Justin Baldoni, Reynolds’ mockery via Nicepool and SNL, and her controversial TIME100 speech referencing her mother’s assault suggest a calculated effort to maintain relevance. Misrepresenting Swift’s involvement and a history of abrasive interviews further erode her credibility. As the March 2026 trial approaches, Lively faces the challenge of rebuilding trust in an industry that once valued her authenticity. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of prioritizing image over integrity.
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