Freshly revealed texts have pulled back the curtain on how furious Ryan Reynolds has allegedly been behind the scenes amid his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, and people close to the Deadpool star are now starting to worry that the stress could send him spiraling.
As you probably know by now, Blake has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the IEWU set — allegations that he strongly denies. The lawsuit has turned into a full-blown Hollywood war, with lawyers battling it out in a New York courtroom and a potential trial looming in May.
But what’s really raising eyebrows are hundreds of sealed exhibits that were recently unsealed, including long text messages Ryan allegedly fired off to powerful figures at William Morris Endeavor while both he and Baldoni were still represented there.
Related: What Was Ryan Reynolds Thinking?!
Those alleged messages weren’t mild venting. One rant reportedly ran over 1,000 words and included Ryan branding Baldoni a predator, a fraud, and a sociopath. Friends say reading them now, in black and white, is alarming given Ryan’s very public history with anxiety. A source told Radar Online on Monday:
“People are worried now because Ryan has talked before about how stress tips him into overdrive. Reading these messages, it feels like he is running on fumes and pure adrenaline.”
That concern isn’t coming out of nowhere. Ryan has been candid for years about his mental health, including a 2021 Instagram post where he laid it all out in his own words, saying in part:
“One of the reasons I’m posting this so late is I overschedule myself and important things slip. And one of the reasons I overschedule myself is my lifelong pal, anxiety.”
Now, with Blake’s legal fight dragging on and his private messages becoming public fodder, pals fear old patterns could resurface.
According to another insider, Ryan’s instinct to protect his wife is clashing with the emotional toll of nonstop legal chaos:
“Ryan’s instinct has always been to go into battle for Blake when he thinks she has been treated unfairly, and that hasn’t changed here. But what’s worrying people is how relentless this has become. The endless legal maneuvering, the need to stay on top of every detail, and the sheer fury pouring out in those messages all risk dragging him back into a headspace he’s spent years learning how to keep under control.”
The texts also highlight just how much sway Ryan has in Hollywood. Baldoni was dropped by WME shortly after the film’s release, something the agency insists had nothing to do with pressure from Ryan or Blake. Still, one cautious reply from agent Warren Zavala raised eyebrows:
“First of all, I love your writing. I’ve read this a couple times. I think we should chat. I can’t respond in a way that plays at the same level.”
Beyond Baldoni, Ryan’s anger reportedly spilled over to studio executives and marketing decisions. For some insiders, it’s a rare glimpse of cracks beneath his famously charming image. One source explained:
“Ryan has built a public persona around being easy-going, self-deprecating and endlessly likable, but people who understand anxiety know it often travels with a need for control and high internal standards. When events start to feel chaotic or unfair, that tension can tip into something much sharper, and that intensity is exactly what friends feel is coming through now.”
Ryan hasn’t commented publicly on the texts or any alleged concerns about his mental health, but as the lawsuit inches closer to a judge’s decision, those closest to him are watching closely and hoping the pressure doesn’t push him too far.
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For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
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