By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-03 17:11:38 | Updated at 2025-04-04 23:26:49
1 day ago
Known as Hollywood’s Mr Nice Guy, Ryan Reynolds has built a multi-million-dollar brand on the back of that image in film and in business.
Wholesome, engaging and polished, the actor has won fans over the world – some of whom are more than a little perplexed by his uncompromising position on the troubles now engulfing his embattled wife Blake Lively
Reynolds is resolute in his insistence that he and his wife are completely innocent in the bitter row and legal battle between Lively and her co-star in the hit film It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni, released in August 2024.
To recap: last December, seemingly out of the blue, Gossip Girl star Lively filed a sexual harassment claim against Baldoni. It was followed by a New York Times account of a smear campaign allegedly launched by Baldoni’s team against Lively in retaliation.
Baldoni hit back with a lawsuit against The New York Times for libel, accusing the newspaper of conspiring with Lively’s public relations – then counter-sued with a $400million claim against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and her agent Leslie Sloane accusing them of extortion and defamation.
This week saw a new filing by Reynolds – more of which later.
Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds and wife Blake Lively in New York in February
The ensuing fall out, a blizzard of briefings and claims and counter-claims by the respective sides, has done neither Blake, 37, or Baldoni, 41, any favours and may even risk tarnishing Reynolds’s image too.
Despite this the Deadpool star has stuck to his wife’s side like glue. No surprise there, you might think. They’ve been married for 13 years and have four children together. And I have seen up close just how strong the bond between them is.
It was in July 2023 and I was at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. The exclusive members club deep in the countryside has a gym, spa, outdoor pool, multiple fine dining restaurants and lavish cottages for its guests to stay in. On that particular morning I was seated in the cosy main barn with its wraparound bar, fireplace and open kitchen for an early breakfast.
Having been a member of Soho House for some years, I know that a quick scan of whatever room you’re in is vital as you never know which A-lister you might spot. And that morning I was lucky.
To my left on the other side of the room was Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively tucking into avocado on sourdough and gourmet full English breakfasts. Seated at a large round table with ten armchairs, they were with their children and various members of their staff, nannies and personal assistants, I assume.
I was surprised that such Hollywood mega-stars hadn’t ordered food to be served in their accommodation.
What I observed over the next hour, barely taking my eyes off them in awe, was the kind of love – between a couple and their children – that you only ever seem to see in films.
Both stars were dressed in slouchy, comfy clothes, Ryan had his specs on while Blake’s hair was in a messy bun which looked effortlessly un-messy. Everyone was busy chatting away to each other while helping James, nine, Inez, eight, and Betty, five, with their meals. Baby Olin, born just months before, was there too.
Lively and Reynolds watch his football team Wrexham play at Wembley in 2022
Inside Soho Farmhouse, where Reynolds and Lively stayed with their four children
It was rather different from what I’ve seen before at Soho House when children and nannies have been seated on a separate table from their celebrity parents.
No phones were in sight, there were smiles and laughter and they were all clearly happy and relaxed.
As for Ryan, he was all over his wife – but in the best way possible. I caught him staring at Blake with pure adoration at times. He was incredibly attentive – and tactile.
I remember thinking how lovely it was.
The restaurant was full but they seemed unaware and nobody bothered them.
After Ryan and Blake finished eating, they thanked the waiting staff, shook their hands and appeared to tip them.
The couple then kissed their children and left them with their carers to finish eating. I watched from afar as Ryan and Blake took a stroll together around the lake, hand in hand, kissing frequently, giggling and cuddling.
I discovered they’d been staying in the farmhouse, the largest cabin which sleeps 14 people and features its own garden, dining room, roll top bathtubs and kitchen. Just last month Amazon Prime took over this property to accommodate Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell for the promotion of their new film You’re Cordially Invited. Up to 20 influencers were invited to meet with them and watch the film in the private, onsite theatre.
Other A-listers, including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Simon Cowell are all known to enjoy a stay at Soho Farmhouse. And the Beckham family are regularly spotted there – it’s only a stone’s throw away from their £12million Cotswolds country pad.
It’s a place that stars feel is a home away from home and clearly Ryan and Blake felt comfortable enough to pack on the PDA and walk around just being themselves.
I certainly saw nothing to doubt his ‘Mr Nice Guy’ credentials that day – credentials he’s certainly earned.
Ryan has worked with a wide range of charities over the years, famously donating $1 million to Ukrainian refugees in 2022.
Since buying Welsh football club Wrexham with It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney in 2020, he has also helped the flagging sports club – the subject of a hit series Welcome To Wrexham on Disney+ – secure over £475million in investment while boosting the economy locally.
Only three months ago, the Canadian actor received the Officer of the Order of Canada, which is the country’s highest civilian honour, for his philanthropic work.
He is one of the highest paid actors in the world – but also a savvy businessman. A major stake holder in the telecom start-up Mint Mobil, it was sold to T-Mobile for $1.35 billion in 2023 – winning him a $300million payout.
Ryan also invested in and became Aviation American Gin’s creative director and a board member, eventually selling his stake to Diageo for an estimated $610million in 2020.
Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni are now locked in a legal battle
He co-founded Maximum Effort, a production and marketing agency, in 2018 and joined a group of investors to acquire 24 per cent of the Formula 1 team, Alpine, in 2023.
And in a bid to win over cross-Atlantic fans, last year his and Blake’s charity, Group Effort Initiative, teamed up with London film production studio Dimension to nurture under-represented talent in the UK entertainment industry.
The recent lawsuits have come as a blow to the idyllic lifestyle and booming careers of Ryan and Blake who until this point have enjoyed spotless reputations and been adored by the media and fans.
It was at the end of last year that Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni, his production company, and lead producer on It Ends With Us, Jamey Heath.
As part of the legal proceedings, Lively accused her co-star of sexual harassment and for spearheading a smear campaign launched in retaliation for speaking out against his alleged misconduct on the set.
In his $400 million countersuit, Baldoni accused Lively and her husband of ‘kicking him off’ his own film – he directed as well as starred in it – and claims Reynolds tried to destroy his career.
From the start of this very public drama, Reynolds stepped up to support his wife – which is what one would expect but according to industry insiders he also felt he owed her after she ‘sacrificed’ her career to raise their children as his star power grew.
He was by her side on red carpets to promote It Ends With Us and even interviewed her co-stars during media appearances.
He has also been busy on social media, sharing more content than usual whether it be selfies of the couple or praising her home-baked goods.
This week in a new filing to a New York court, Reynolds called himself a ‘supportive spouse who has witnessed first-hand the emotional, reputational and financial devastation’ his wife suffered.
Reynolds accused Baldoni of attempting to ‘shame’ him for being the ‘kind of man who is confident enough to listen to the woman in his life and stand with her’.
Simultaneously, Ryan also unveiled new stadium plans for Wrexham – a 5,500-seat stand which would allow the club to host international fixtures – which some fans saw as a bid to draw focus back to his work with the Welsh community.
At a match this week, he was snapped with his arm wrapped his arm around Blake.
The club are currently fighting it out at the top of League One in a bid to secure a place in the Championship – just one division below the Premier League – continuing the success experienced since Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought it four years ago. The fans are in no doubt where their support lies.
Season ticket holder Ryan Massey, 70, told the Mail: ‘Ryan has been fantastic for the place, not only the club but the town. I’m sure his wife’s court case won’t affect things here as he really seems to have a connection to the place.
‘Ryan has my 100 per cent backing.’
Mother-of-three Sian Jones, 43, said: ‘I don’t think what is happening in Hollywood will affect the club or Wrexham. Ryan has been fantastic for the town as well as the club. He has invested so much in the place – I won’t hear a word against him.
‘We have all taken him to our hearts. I’m sure him and Blake will clear their names in all this.’
Indeed, a third season of Welcome To Wrexham – which has won five Emmy awards – will kick off on April 18 and will be shown on Disney+ in the UK and might well be a welcome distraction from the couples’ forthcoming court battles.
Time will tell if the Welsh community’s faith in the starry Tinseltown duo is justified.
