Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are coming through with the receipts.
The controversial actress filed an amended complaint against her It Ends with Us co-star/director Justin Baldoni on Tuesday night, and part of it aims to end the narrative that she and Ryan launched a smear campaign against the Jane the Virgin alum. Included in the amended filing, obtained by TMZ, was a text exchange between the Deadpool star and Blake’s longtime publicist Leslie Sloane. Its time stamp marks August 13, which you may recall was around the time of It Ends with Us’ release and the turn of public opinion on Blake amid her questionable marketing efforts. Leslie writes Ryan:
“Hi it’s Les. Just checking in to tell you I’m thinking about you, B and the family. Hugs to all. Xx”
In response, The Proposal star writes:
“Thank you. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. But it will be resolved.”
16 days later on August 29, Leslie writes back sharing an article relating to Blake’s brother-in-law Bart Johnson claiming “the truth has not come out yet” amid the Justin drama and scrutiny surrounding Blake. She wrote:
“Hi. Sorry to bother you but this is clogging my inbox. I’m not answering.”
And Ryan’s response is what his and The Shallows star’s legal team is attempting to use to prove the married couple never launched any such smear campaign against Justin — and that they in fact did the opposite! Ryan actually instructed the publicist to stay completely quiet on the matter! He writes:
“Thanks for sending. It’s imperative we stay silent on everything and speak to nobody. As I mentioned in Denmark before Blake’s premiere to not talk to ANYONE about any of these attacks on Blake. Just making sure you haven’t done that at any point? I think this is sweet Bart said this. But the only thing to do is remain silent for now.”
Leslie responds:
“I have not per your instructions”
Inneresting.
In the filings, Blake’s lawyers argue:
“Ms. Lively expressly instructed her publicist, Leslie Sloane, not to engage with press inquiries, including ones regarding the on-set behavior of Mr. Baldoni, Mr. [Jamey] Heath, or Wayfarer. In other words, Ms. Lively’s instructions to her publicist were the opposite of a smear or exposing him, even while she believed he was behind the attacks on her.”
They continue:
“Mr. Reynolds confirmed that instruction to Ms. Lively’s publicist on August 13 and again on August 29, directing her to continue to ‘remain quiet’ and not do anything to shape any stories, whether positive or negative, reiterating an instruction that both he and Ms. Lively had given her verbally at the premiere of the Film in Denmark on August 9 to ‘not talk to ANYONE about any of the attacks on Blake.’”
Well, the dates don’t lie! Do you think this is good for #TeamBlake? Is it enough to combat the wave of evidence Justin has?? Let us know what you think in the comments down below!
