BREAKING: No Oscars Night for Power Couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds as They Avoid the Spotlight During ‘It Ends With Us’ Director Justin Baldoni Controversy, Even with Deadpool & Wolverine Earning Recognition as Ryan Reynolds States “We’re sitting this one out—turns out the red carpet clashes with my red suit anyway”

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Skip Oscars 2025 Amid Justin Baldoni Scandal Fallout, Despite Deadpool Buzz

March 3, 2025 – Hollywood’s biggest night, the 2025 Academy Awards, rolled out the red carpet tonight, but two of its brightest stars were conspicuously absent. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, the power couple known for their wit, charm, and blockbuster hits, opted to skip the Oscars ceremony despite Deadpool & Wolverine earning a mention in the awards season chatter. Their absence comes as the ugly legal battle with It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni continues to cast a shadow over their public lives, leaving fans and industry insiders speculating about the toll of the scandal.

The decision to forego the Oscars marks another chapter in what’s been a low-profile awards season for Lively and Reynolds. The pair previously skipped the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, even with Deadpool & Wolverine—the R-rated Marvel juggernaut starring Reynolds and Hugh Jackman—racking up nominations and wins, including a Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy. Tonight, the film was name-checked during the Oscars broadcast for its technical achievements, with some predicting it could snag a nod in categories like Best Visual Effects. Yet, the couple’s chairs remained empty, a silent statement amid the swirling controversy that’s dominated headlines since late 2024.

At the heart of the drama is Lively’s explosive legal feud with Baldoni, stemming from their collaboration on It Ends With Us. In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment on set. She alleged inappropriate comments, unwanted physical contact, and a retaliatory smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni and his team to discredit her after she raised concerns. Baldoni fired back, denying the claims and filing a staggering $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation, extortion, and creative sabotage. The lawsuit even dragged Deadpool & Wolverine into the fray, with Baldoni claiming Reynolds mocked him through the character Nicepool—a theory that’s fueled endless fan speculation online.

“To be honest, I’m not surprised they’re sitting this one out,” said an industry source close to the couple. “The Baldoni situation has turned into a PR nightmare, and the Oscars would’ve been a pressure cooker. They’re keeping their heads down until the dust settles.” Indeed, the legal saga has escalated into a multi-front war, with Baldoni also suing The New York Times for $250 million over its reporting on Lively’s allegations, while Lively’s team has dismissed his countersuit as a “desperate” attempt to flip the narrative.

The Oscars absence couldn’t have been an easy call for Reynolds, whose Deadpool & Wolverine has been a rare bright spot in his year. The film, a critical and commercial smash, grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and cemented his status as a superhero kingpin. Yet, even with the movie’s cultural footprint undeniable, Reynolds has stayed uncharacteristically quiet, save for a few social media posts—like a heartfelt SickKids charity plug in December and a rare selfie with Lively in February. Some fans see it as a sign of solidarity with his wife, whose reputation has taken a beating amid the scandal’s fallout.

“Ryan’s not going to leave Blake to face this alone,” one X user posted. “Skipping the Oscars is a power move—showing Hollywood he’s got her back, no matter what.” Others, however, weren’t so forgiving. “After what they allegedly did to Justin, good riddance,” another wrote, reflecting the polarized sentiment that’s erupted online. The couple’s decision has only amplified the chatter, with Baldoni’s camp quick to seize the moment. “Their absence speaks volumes,” Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman told reporters outside the Dolby Theatre. “The truth will come out in court.”

For Lively, the stakes are personal as much as professional. It Ends With Us, a film about domestic violence based on Colleen Hoover’s novel, was supposed to be a prestige turn for the Gossip Girl alum. Instead, it’s become a lightning rod, with her allegations against Baldoni splitting fans and sparking a broader conversation about accountability in Hollywood. Her legal team has stood firm, calling Baldoni’s countersuit a textbook case of “DARVO”—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender—and promising to fight on with “concrete evidence.”

As the Oscars unfolded, the night’s glamour felt a little dimmer without Lively and Reynolds’ trademark banter. Host Nikki Glaser, who’d vowed to steer clear of the scandal at the Golden Globes, kept her word, avoiding any direct jabs. But the elephant in the room was impossible to ignore. When Deadpool & Wolverine got a shoutout during a montage of 2024’s biggest films, the camera panned to an empty seat where Reynolds might’ve been, prompting a ripple of whispers through the crowd.

Whether their Oscars no-show was a strategic retreat or a personal stand, one thing’s clear: the Lively-Reynolds brand, once untouchable, is navigating choppy waters. With court dates looming and the Deadpool buzz still humming, Hollywood’s watching to see how this saga ends—and whether the couple can reclaim their spot at the top when the gavel finally falls.