Despite rumors that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are mentally and emotionally distraught over the legal battle with Justin Baldoni, who she accused of orchestrating a smear campaign against her and s-xually harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us, Lively’s public appearances tell a different story. Her public appearances are making it clear that in the Reynolds-Lively household, it’s business as usual.
Her recent all smiles, no shade appearance at the A Simple Favor sequel premiere at SXSW has sparked debate. Some call it an act of “toxic positivity” (a pun only those closely following the case will appreciate), while others question whether this very interaction was staged, manufactured goodwill, complete with pretend fans.
Blake Lively’s SXSW appearance sparks “pretend fan” theories!!
Blake Lively‘s recent red carpet moment at SXSW is making waves, but not just for her stunning look. Eagle-eyed fans are questioning whether some of the enthusiastic supporters in the crowd were a little too perfectly placed, sparking deja vu from a recent Ryan Reynolds pap run in!
Just weeks ago, Reynolds went viral when photos surfaced of him signing Deadpool posters, all taped to cardboard with identical blue tape. Every fan in line had the exact same setup, somewhat the same pictures, the same tape, the same markers.
Then, a TikTok user claimed they were unknowingly recruited to make 25 identical Deadpool posters for a mysterious “arts and crafts project” for their boss’s kids. While if there was any truth to it, it can never be known; suspicion will always be there, and this Lively incident isn’t helping disprove it.
At the Another Simple Favor SXSW premiere, fans quickly pointed out some unusual details. The film’s director, Paul Feig’s wife, was seen playing the role of an excited fan in the crowd. Another so-called “fan,” in a black and white shirt, spotted outside eagerly waiting, was then seen inside, still playing along. Here is what fans are saying,
Why is the director of Another Simple Favor’s wife pretending to be a fan in the crowd waiting for Blake on the red carpet to take a selfie? Watch how many PR bots reply that “this is normal”, “internalized misogyny”, and “why do you care”? 👇😂 pic.twitter.com/U0a3Bft8Rp
— Melanie King (@realmelanieking) March 9, 2025
This Tik toker noted a “fan” outside she took a photo with outside, was also inside the theater hanging out with Blake pic.twitter.com/tUdhpttPMC
— ✨Erin ×͜× ✨ (@tdefenseless28) March 10, 2025
are you kidding me?!? blake lively had to stack the crowd with acquaintances and work colleagues yo pretend she was still popular.@blakelively give it up, you shameless bore. https://t.co/VJMijJ2FRM
— Liz (@LizzieTheQueen6) March 9, 2025
She planted these “fans”? Omg plz leave us all alone unless you’re gonna settle which you should #blakelively https://t.co/YmQ6nMSQXP
— Sunkissed✨☄️ (@moonchild991234) March 10, 2025
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Not at all surprised the crowd had “fake” fans.
Let me add that the crowd for ASF premiere was sparse as fuck. I actually had to shoot and edit my film a bit deceptively in terms of framing so it would appear more people were there. (In hindsight, not sure why I did that… https://t.co/WM6tmkKt5Y
— Colonel Kurtz -PopCulture/ Politics/ MarilynManson (@colonelkurtz99) March 9, 2025
No, it’s not. Blake Lively had people she knew, like the director’s wife and others, pretend to be her fans. It was all a complete sham, and she was doing everything she could to curate and control the situation. You need to consider the whole context, not just the one moment…
— The Spiritual Shift (@spiritualshift_) March 10, 2025
Whether this was all just a stunt or not may never be confirmed, but one thing is certain: if the trial moves forward, Blake Lively’s bank account could take a serious hit. With Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit looming over her, the stakes are sky-high.
To put it into perspective, that’s four times the combined net worth of Lively and Ryan Reynolds. If things don’t go her way, this legal battle could cost more than just her reputation!
The truth behind the $400 million figure in Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit: Does it hold any weight?
Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds may sound like a financial catastrophe waiting to happen, but legal experts say that number is more about headlines than hard facts. In reality, such an astronomical sum is more of a scare tactic than a realistic expectation.
Lawsuits often come with over-the-top damage claims, but that doesn’t mean the plaintiff will walk away with anything close to that amount. Lawyers familiar with cases like this explain that defamation claims rely on speculative and subjective damages, making it easy for plaintiffs to demand sky-high payouts without solid proof.
Baldoni’s legal team would need to show that he was on track to earning half a billion dollars before Lively’s allegations allegedly damaged his career. Given that he was dropped by WME and lost a high-profile award, he’s pushing this lawsuit not just for financial compensation but to clear his name and restore his reputation.
Several entertainment lawyers agree that this lawsuit is more of a PR strategy than a serious financial threat. Attorney Raiford Dalton Palmer via Page Six says, plaintiffs often “aim high” in their claims to get attention and put pressure on the defendants. It’s a standard legal move, make the number big enough to dominate headlines and put the other side on edge.
That being said, if Baldoni were to win anything substantial, it could still shake up Lively and Reynolds’ combined finances. With Lively’s reported $30 million net worth (via Celebrity Net Worth) and Reynolds’ estimated $71.5 million (as per Forbes), their total fortune sits around $101.5 million, nowhere near the $400 million being demanded. If a jury awards even a fraction of the claim, it could take a significant bite out of their wealth.
While Baldoni’s legal team hasn’t commented on why they landed on this massive figure, experts say it’s unlikely he will receive anywhere close to that sum. This case has always been about reputation and revenge rather than financial ruin, but if things don’t go Lively’s way, her and Reynolds’ fortune could still take a pretty big hit.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
