Celebrity

Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively Slammed As 'Desperate' And 'Pathetic' For Posting Selfie After 'It Ends With Us' Lawsuit Settled: 'Damage Control PR Piece'

May 14, 2026 by Maria Pierides
shefinds | Celebrity
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The yearslong legal battle between Blake Lively and It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni may finally be settled, but that doesn’t mean the public is ready to forgive and forget!

Au contraire, the Gossip Girl alum and her husband Ryan Reynolds are being slammed for once again trying to distract people from the lawsuit by posting pictures on social media – something they have repeatedly been accused of doing whenever something doesn’t go their way. Keep reading for more details…

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Blake Lively Ryan Reynolds selfie Instagram Story

Ryan Reynolds Shares A Cozy Selfie With Blake Lively

On Tuesday, May 5th, the Deadpool & Wolverine actor, 49, shared a cute picture of himself and a makeup-free Age of Adaline actress, 38, on his Instagram Story, with Millie Jackson's "Here You Come Again" playing over the top. The affectionate photo showed the two of them smiling softly, with the mom-of-four gently resting her hand in Reynolds' hair.

Fans think the post may have been a subtle way of showing that everything is well with their marriage after the legal battle, following reports suggesting the Another Simple Favor star may have wanted to settle the lawsuit just to get it over with in order to save her marriage to the Mayday actor.

An insider reportedly told Rob Shuter's Naughty But Nice Substack: "The realization hit her all at once. She had already lost too much – professionally, personally, publicly. The one thing she refused to lose was her marriage."

Blake Lively Met Gala 2026

Blake Lively Has Also Reportedly Taken A Professional Hit

And speaking of losing a lot professionally, the Rhythm Section actress has reportedly suffered when it comes to her image, especially regarding the Met Gala.

Lively was once considered one of the queens of the Met Gala, known for matching her dress to the red carpet and having designers fight over her. However, fresh reports claim that wasn't exactly the case this year. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alum was allegedly dealing with a wardrobe malfunction (which close friend Hugh Jackman reportedly helped with!) and was also accused by some social media users of displaying "mean girl" behavior on the red carpet.

"Blake's brand has absolutely collapsed in certain fashion circles," an insider reportedly told Shuter. "A few years ago, having Blake wear your gown was considered a huge win. Now some designers think it hurts more than it helps."

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively SNL50 anniversary

Internet Reactions To The Selfie

Regardless of Lively's intentions for settling the lawsuit, or Reynolds' intentions for posting the selfie, fans were still offended, and thought it was definitely a way to distract people from what has been happening.

"It seemed to be a damage control PR piece for RR," thought one Yahoo reader. "They are both trying to save their careers, and it isn't working. Go away," echoed a second, as a third exclaimed: "This couple is pure evil!"

"She's desperate and pathetic," slammed a fourth, as a fifth said: "So desperate and so tone deaf." "Disgusting woman," a sixth chimed in.

"If Baldoni really tried to ruin her reputation, it wasn't nearly as impactful as what she did to herself," observed a seventh, while an eighth asked: "What does it say about their marriage if bad public opinion about her is enough to possibly jeopardize it?"

A ninth speculated: "She had to settle to keep her hubby. That's pretty much all she has left. Her career is in the toilet never to return." Ouch!

Author:

Senior Celebrity Writer

Maria has spent the last decade writing about entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle for online and print publications all around the globe – including InStyle, OK!, and The Mirror. At SheFinds, Maria covers breaking celebrity news, red carpet looks, celebrity transformations, A-list couples, and has a watchful eye on celebrity social media accounts. You can reach her at contactmariapierides@gmail.com