Ryan Reynolds has broken his silence after his wife Blake Lively made sexual harassment claims against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
Lively and Baldoni starred alongside each other in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, with the latter also being the movie’s director.
Their relationship has been far from smooth sailing however, with speculation mounting surrounding the pair’s alleged ‘friction’, while Lively also found herself being slammed online during the film’s press tour.
Lively has since filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, with the Gossip Girl star accusing her co-star of sexual harassment – which the Baldoni camp categorically denies – and ‘other behaviors that were shocking and emotional distressing’, as per the complaint.
Reynolds was mentioned in the lawsuit as having attending a meeting where Lively laid down 30 demands for Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath in order for filming to resume following claims of a ‘hostile work environment’.
And now the Deadpool star has broken his silence following Lively’s allegations going public.
Reynolds has revealed he and Lively are raising money for the SickKids Foundation, with a campaign taking place on December 24.
The Hospital for Sick Children, based in Toronto, Canada, hopes to improve the lives and health of infants across Canada.
The actor stated he and his wife would match all donations up to $500,000, which should make a huge difference this holiday season.
“Donate before midnight December 24th and Ryan and Blake will match all donations up to $500,000,” Reynolds wrote on his Instagram Stories.
“This is our 8th YEAR doing the Ugly Sweater Campaign and this might be the best one yet. Only a couple of days left… Let’s go,” the Deadpool star added in the caption.
Many others of Lively’s close inner circle have spoken out amid the lawsuit, including her sister Robyn.
“It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister,” Robyn penned on Instagram.
The statement continued: “She is one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know. Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions.
“The ‘truth’ in the tabloids is hardly ever what you think. But honesty prevails. Today is a good day. My gratitude is boundless for your kindness here and consideration for my sister.
“I’m so proud of her. Proud that she has handled herself with such grace and didn’t cave, that she didn’t allow herself to be silenced in the face of adversity and lies. I hope this gives others the strength to do the same.”
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni as well as his company Wayfarer Studios, told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement: “It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”
