Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Seek Out Quiet Refuges Amid High-Profile Legal Struggle

22 November 2025

Ker said visiting Wrexham, where Reynolds co-owns a soccer team, is an “escape” for them. PA Images via Getty Images

Amid the ongoing legal drama between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni, a close friend of Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds says the couple is seeking respite in low-profile locations to escape intense media scrutiny. British comedian and Wrexham A.F.C. executive Humphrey Ker revealed in an interview that the pair have been “through the wringer” over the past 18 months as the lawsuit continues to play out in the background. He noted that what the couple loves about Wrexham is that “no one there gives two s-s about [their celebrity]… what they care about is whether he’ll buy them a new centre back.” Ker described this retreat as a genuine escape from the constant headline-making legal battle.

Lively filed her complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, citing allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and other workplace misconduct during the production of the movie It Ends With Us. Baldoni responded with a counter-suit seeking $400 million, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation and civil extortion. That countersuit was dismissed in June 2025, although Lively’s original case is still scheduled for trial in March 2026.

Ker noted that the level of public interest has fluctuated: “It waxes and wanes in the public interest, but things still continue to rumble on in the background.” He expressed sympathy for the couple while also emphasising their desire for normalcy something Reynolds and Lively say they are striving to protect.

The choice of Wrexham as a refuge signals a deliberate move away from the spotlight. The Welsh town offers anonymity rare for a celebrity-facing couple, and Ker’s remarks paint a picture of Lively and Reynolds valuing that anonymity above their usual high-visibility lifestyle. It suggests that their strategy is less about avoidance of the legal matter and more about protecting family boundaries and mental wellbeing while the case proceeds.

As the trial date looms, the couple’s need for a reprieve from both paparazzi and persistent legal headlines appears to have grown. Friends and insiders say that while neither Lively nor Reynolds wants the focus off their careers, they are prioritising emotional space and private life. That approach has been bolstered by the support of their inner circle friends like Ker who help provide a buffer from the ongoing media circus.

While the legal drama remains public and high-stakes, this phase of retreat may help shape how the couple emerges from the process. The challenge for Lively and Reynolds will be to balance strategic visibility particularly given upcoming professional projects with the personal choice to preserve a quieter sphere.