Newly obtained text messages from August 2024 reveal just how hard Ryan Reynolds pushed for Sony Pictures to publicly defend Blake Lively during the“It Ends with Us”backlash. In messages between Reynolds and talent agent Warren Zavala, obtained by Page Six, Reynolds called the negative press a“systematic and coordinated campaign by a crisis PR team”and accused the studio of leaving his wife“out to dry.”He didn’t hold back, writing that Sony needed to“step up for real”and that their silence was“unforgivable.”
At the time, Lively was catching heat for how she promoted the film, which centers on domestic violence. Her“wear your florals”messaging struck a nerve with audiences and critics alike, and the pile-on got intense fast. Zavala reportedly suggested getting others to share positive stories about Lively, but Sony didn’t release a statement of support until December 2024, months after the worst of it. That statement came after Lively accused director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign.
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni eventually settled two weeks before a May trial, with no money exchanged. Now that the texts are public, the conversation has shifted to bigger questions about how studios handle star controversies and whether private messages should ever end up in court documents for the world to read. What do you think: was Ryan right to go this hard for Blake, or should that stay behind closed doors?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
