Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds make major statement after awkward SNL gag

Blake Lively appeared at the premiere for her movie Another Simple Favor and posed with co-star Anna Kendrick, but husband Ryan Reynolds was absent from the red carpet for a good reason

Blake Lively walked the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie Another Simple Favor on Friday night, but her husband Ryan Reynolds was unusually not by her side.

Blake and Ryan are currently involved in a legal and media war of words with actor/director Justin Baldoni, and the premiere at the SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas, marks one of the 37 year old actress’s few public appearances since she filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of their movie It Ends With Us. Blake, in a pink and black dress and matching PVC coat, posed with co-star Anna Kendrick and Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig, and smiled for fans, but her husband Ryan was noticeably absent.

An insider has told the Daily Mail that there was a good reason that 48 year old Ryan was not by his wife’s side. According to the insider, the couple took note of the reception they received when Ryan appeared on the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special and made a joke about their legal woes, and realised it was better if they kept their professional lives separate for now.

On the SNL anniversary show, presenter Tina Fey asked Ryan, who was in the celebrity-packed audience, how he was doing, and he replied: “Why, what have you heard?” which was interpreted as a dig at Justin Baldoni counter-suing Blake for defamation in January.

The source said: “SNL was a test to see how fans would react to them. It was their first outing together since Blake filed and it did not bode well for them. Ryan and Blake both [now] realize that, if their careers are to survive, they cannot be involved in the same projects because everything will be heavily scrutinized.”

The source continued to say that Ryan and Blake are keen to protect their separate incomes and it makes sense for Ryan to protect his own career and interests as the much-loved Deadpool actor has so far been unaffected by the press and fan reaction to Blake and Baldoni’s lawsuits.

It is, of course, quite common for a Hollywood star to attend a premiere without their off screen partner. A spokesperson for Ryan Reynolds said: “The premiere was a resounding success, both fans and critics in attendance loved the movie. Blake attended with her cast and filmmakers and had a great time. Several other actors attended premieres at SXSW without their spouses or significant others.”

There have been rumours that Blake’s co-star, Anna Kendrick, was not pleased that Blake’s negative press was casting a shadow over their new movie, a sequel to the 2018 hit A Simple Favor. Two videos have gone viral from the premiere on Friday 7 March, both of which show Anna’s quick wit in response to being grilled about Blake and her recent legal drama. During the red carpet event ahead of the screening, a reporter asked Anna: “How do you feel that the movie is being impacted by everything going on… in the world?”

Kendrick smiled and said: “Why? What happened? I did Ayahuasca and the last year of my life has just gone, but I’ve heard the movie is amazing!”

She was later asked by a fan what it was like working with Blake again. The Pitch Perfect star responded with a blunt comment: “Oh you know.“ The telling remark was a huge contrast to Blake’s comments about working with Anna. When Blake was asked the same question in reverse, she said: “Oh it’s the best, I’m so happy.“

Another Simple Favor is Blake Lively’s first release since It Ends With Us, which was released the summer of 2024, which saw the actress get into a lawsuit with the movie’s director, Justin Baldoni. Lively, 37, accused Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment. He countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, for £321 million, accusing them of trying to destroy his reputation and career. They both deny the allegations.