The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has not only affected their own lives but has also put a strain on Lively’s relationships with some of her closest friends. The Gossip Girl actress has been embroiled in a messy lawsuit since December 2024, accusing Baldoni of inappropriate behavior and launching a smear campaign against her.
In response, Baldoni filed counterclaims against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and even The New York Times, who first reported on the case. The legal battle has escalated to the point where several of Lively’s inner circle, including Hugh Jackman and Taylor Swift, have been dragged into the drama.
Taylor Swift, in particular, has been a central figure in the legal battle. Lively claimed that Baldoni mentioned Swift while discussing his smear campaign plans, and Baldoni allegedly referenced Swift in a text to Lively praising her work on the movie. Despite Swift’s reps denying her involvement, she was subpoenaed in May 2025, causing tension in her friendship with Lively.
Gigi Hadid, another close friend of Lively, has remained silent on the issue but has distanced herself from the actress due to the lawsuit. Similarly, Hugh Jackman has not publicly addressed the controversy but found himself involved as Baldoni accused a film they worked on of mocking him.
The legal battle has taken a toll on Lively’s relationships with her friends, with reports of strained friendships and uncomfortable situations arising. As the trial date approaches, it remains to be seen how these friendships will evolve in the midst of the ongoing legal drama. Jackman’s role as Wolverine marked his only involvement in the project, but his support for his friends amidst legal drama has not gone unnoticed. In April 2025, reports surfaced that Jackman and Taylor Swift could be subpoenaed in a case, although Jackman has not officially been brought into the legal battle. The same month, Justin Baldoni’s lawyers criticized Marvel for attempting to distance themselves from lawsuits against Blake Lively.
Despite the controversy, Jackman showed his loyalty to Lively by attending her Another Simple Favor premiere in April 2025. In return, Lively and Ryan Reynolds supported Jackman by attending his off-Broadway play, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, in the same month. Jackman’s continued social media interactions with the couple suggest that their friendship remains strong.
Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn, also stood by her side during the legal battle. In a joint Instagram statement, they expressed their support for Lively’s fight against the alleged campaign to discredit her. They commended her courage and encouraged their followers to read the full details of Lively’s lawsuit.
On the other hand, Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson initially remained silent about the legal drama but eventually voiced their support for Lively in May 2025. McElhenney emphasized the importance of offering support without adding fuel to the fire. While McElhenney follows both Lively and Reynolds on Instagram, Olson only follows Reynolds as of May 2025.
Director Shawn Levy, associated with the drama through Baldoni’s claims about the Marvel project, expressed his pride in calling Lively a friend during the initial stages of the legal battle. He shared a link to the NY Times article about Lively’s lawsuit on his Instagram Story. Levy continues to follow Lively and Reynolds on Instagram.
Actress Salma Hayek, a longtime friend of Lively, subtly showed her support by mentioning her close relationship with Lively and Reynolds’ children in a May 2025 interview. Hayek follows both Lively and Reynolds on Instagram.
Anna Kendrick, another one of Lively’s co-stars from A Simple Favor, has remained quiet about the legal issues. However, she follows Lively on Instagram, indicating that their friendship remains intact despite the controversy. The friendship status between actresses Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick was called into question amidst press for their film Another Simple Favor. However, a source exclusively told Us in February 2025 that “there aren’t any issues between Blake and Anna right now.”
At the film’s SXSW premiere the following month, Kendrick dodged questions about Lively’s legal drama, and director Paul Feig denied any speculation of bad blood between them at the festival.
Robyn Lively and her husband Bart Johnson, who is Blake’s brother-in-law, have been unwavering supporters during Blake’s legal battle against Justin Baldoni. Johnson publicly praised Blake, calling her “my hero” in a statement following her lawsuit in December 2024.
In a since-deleted social media post, Johnson referred to Baldoni as a “fraud” and made fun of his “man bun.” However, he later apologized for his remarks in a January 2025 post, acknowledging that speaking unkindly about others is something he regrets and there is always a better way to handle conflicts.
It is evident that despite the challenges and drama surrounding Blake Lively and her relationships, her family remains steadfast in their support for her. The narrative of friendship and loyalty in Hollywood continues to be a complex and ever-evolving one, as seen in the dynamics between these prominent figures in the entertainment industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes in the way we live our lives. From social distancing measures to remote work, the virus has had a significant impact on our daily routines. One of the most notable changes has been the rise of online shopping.
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