Rob McElhenney’s Hilarious Support for Ryan Reynolds Amid Legal Drama!

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Rob McElhenney is there for his teammate.

Over time, Rob McElhenney, a former star of “Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and his Wrexham AFC partner Ryan Reynolds have formed a strong friendship since acquiring the Welsh football team. In light of Ryan and his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing legal dispute with their “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, Rob and his wife Kaitlin Olson have been actively offering support to the couple.

One method Rob employs is ensuring Ryan regularly gets a stream of humorous memes and funny videos.

In their conversation with Variety (published on May 21st), Rob clarified, “It’s about keeping in touch and facing challenges side by side.” He also mentioned his aim to provide as much assistance as possible given all the complexities he knows Kaitlin is dealing with.

The 48-year-old went on to say, ‘We’re merely attempting to provide assistance without unintentionally fueling the situation further.’

Due to the ongoing, public legal disputes, it’s no secret that there’s already a lot of heat involved.

More recently, U.S. district judge Lewis J. Liman scolded Justin’s legal team for making unsubstantiated claims against Blake, alleging he was attempting to coerce Taylor Swift into issuing a public endorsement without enough evidence to support such accusations.

After the verdict, a representative from Blake issued a statement emphasizing the swiftness with which the court arrived at its decision.

 

In a statement made on May 15th to TopMob News, a representative for the former Gossip Girl star stated that the court swiftly disregarded Mr. Freedman’s unnecessary, unprofessional, and inflammatory allegations within a day. They were dismissed, expunged from the court proceedings, and Mr. Freedman was cautioned that continued misbehavior might result in penalties.

 

Previously, a representative for Taylor had likewise dismissed the accusations, emphasizing that Taylor played no part in “It Ends With Us”.

 

According to a statement provided to TopMob News on May 12th, it was clarified that she had no role in the casting or creative aspects of the project. Moreover, she didn’t compose the music for the film and never watched an edited version nor made any suggestions about it.

 

For more on Blake and Justin’s ongoing legal battle, keep reading.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to clarify my stance on the recent allegation made by Justin’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman. The claim, which relied on an anonymous source, was deemed “improper” by Judge Liman. In response to a request from Blake’s legal team, this contentious point has been removed from the case, as evidenced in court documents we’ve obtained at TopMob News.

In the court document, the judge stated that the intention behind the letter was clearly to cause public disturbance by making serious allegations, based on assumption, against Lively and her legal team. Furthermore, it appears to be designed to spark media chaos by insinuating that Lively and her counsel were trying to blackmail a prominent figure.

He concluded by cautioning Justin’s legal representatives, stating that any future abuses of the court system could lead to penalties or disciplinary actions.

TopMob News reached out to Justin’s team for comment at the time but did not hear back.

After the verdict, a representative for Blake issued a statement emphasizing the swiftness with which the court reached its conclusion.

A representative for the former Gossip Girl actor announced on May 15th to TopMob News that it only took the court a short period, less than 24 hours, to recognize Mr. Freedman’s unrelated, inappropriate, and provocative allegations as unnecessary, dismiss them, expunge them from the proceedings, and advise Mr. Freedman that any future misconduct could lead to penalties.

Previously, a representative for Taylor had likewise dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that Taylor was not involved in “It Ends With Us”.

According to a statement made by her representative to TopMob News on May 12th, she had no role in the casting or creative aspects of the project. Furthermore, she didn’t compose the music for the film, nor did she ever review an edited version or provide any feedback on it.

For more on Blake and Justin’s ongoing legal battle, keep reading.

Four months following the cinema release of Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) on December 20, as reported by The New York Times. In the complaint acquired by TopMob News, Justin Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios (Wayfarer), its CEO Jamey Heath, cofounder Steve Sarowitz, Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel, her company RWA Communications, crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, her company The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG), contractor Jed Wallace, and his company Street Relations Inc. were named as defendants.

Lively claimed in the complaint that Baldoni and his Wayfarer associates “launched a complex press and digital strategy in retaliation” for expressing concerns about alleged misconduct on set—with her stating she and other cast and crew members “experienced intrusive, unwanted, unprofessional, and sexually inappropriate behavior” by Baldoni and Heath.

The actress further stated that this alleged campaign against her caused significant harm to both her personal life and career. The accusations listed in the complaint include sexual harassment; retaliation; failure to investigate, prevent, or remedy harassment; aiding and abetting harassment and retaliation; breach of contract; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; false light invasion of privacy; and interference with prospective economic advantage.

The following day, The New York Times released a piece detailing the alleged counterattack smear strategy carried out by Baldoni and his colleagues against Lively, backing up her CRD complaint. In their report, the publication shared messages sent by Baldoni, Abel (his publicist), and Nathan (crisis communications specialist) – all of which were part of her complaint. The newspaper’s website also made available the related court documents for readers to review.

 “I hope that my legal action sheds light on these underhanded retaliatory tactics aimed at damaging those who speak out against misconduct,” Lively told the outlet, “and serves as a shield for others who may be subjected to such treatment.

 

—Reporting by Sara Ouerfelli

Following the disclosure of Lively’s grievances, Bryan Freedman – lawyer for Baldoni, Wayfarer, and their representatives – forcefully disputed Lively’s claims. He stated in a statement on The New York Times website:

“It is regrettable that Miss Lively and her team would make such grave and unquestionably false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their representatives. This seems to be another desperate ploy to improve her tarnished reputation, which stemmed from her own remarks and actions during the promotion of the film; interviews and press activities that were openly accessible, uncensored, and allowed for public scrutiny, enabling online viewers to form their opinions. These assertions are entirely false, shocking, and maliciously crafted to damage and rekindle a media narrative.”

Freedman further defended Wayfarer’s choice to engage a crisis manager, explaining that this was done prior to the movie’s promotional campaign.

“The representatives of Wayfarer Studios took no proactive actions nor retaliated, instead only responding to incoming media inquiries to maintain balanced and accurate reporting and monitor social activity,” he later added. “What is notably absent from the selectively shared correspondence is the proof that no active measures were taken with media or otherwise; just internal strategy planning and private communications, which is routine practice among public relations professionals.

After an article by The New York Times was published on December 21, William Morris Endeavor (WME) severed ties with Baldoni, a fact confirmed by Ari Emanuel, CEO of the agency’s parent company, Endeavor. However, it was later denied that Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, played any role in WME’s decision to part ways with Baldoni, as alleged in his subsequent lawsuit against The New York Times (more on this below). In response to these claims, WME, which also represents Reynolds and Lively, issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on January 1, stating that “In Baldoni’s filing there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true.” They further clarified that Baldoni’s former representative was not present at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere and that there was no pressure from Reynolds or Lively to drop Baldoni as a client at any time.

After Lively’s CRD filing and an article in The New York Times, several well-known personalities voiced their support for her accusations against Baldoni. Among them was the author of ‘It Ends With Us’, Hoover.

On Instagram Stories, December 21st, Hoover wrote, “Blake Lively, you have always been truthful, kind, supportive, and patient since we first met. Thank you for being exactly the person you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

Jenny Slate, who portrayed Baldoni’s character Ryle’s sister, also expressed her solidarity with Lively. “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I express my support as she takes action against those accused of damaging her reputation,” Slate stated on December 23rd to Today. “Blake is a leader, loyal friend, and a source of emotional support for me and many others who know and love her.”

Slate added, “The revelations about the attack on Blake are incredibly dark, unsettling, and deeply threatening. I commend my friend, admire her bravery, and stand by her side.”

Brandon Sklenar, a romantic interest for Lively’s character Lily Bloom in the series, shared a screenshot of the complaint published on The New York Times’ website and linked to the outlet with the caption, “For the love of God, read this.”

Lastly, Lively’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn declared that they stand in solidarity with her.

Liz Plank recently informed her followers on Instagram about her decision to leave “The Man Enough Podcast”, which she co-hosted with Baldoni and Heath. In her message, she expressed gratitude for the trust and support of listeners over the past four years and emphasized that she will continue to stand by the values they built together. She did not specify the reason for her departure but mentioned it came shortly after Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer. Plank pledged to share more about this development soon while continuing to support those who fight injustice and hold accountable those who obstruct progress.

In a lawsuit filed on Christmas Eve in New York, Baldoni’s former publicist Stephanie Jones and her agency Jonesworks LLC accused Baldoni, his company Wayfarer, his current publicist Abel, and crisis communications specialist Nathan of a months-long conspiracy to defame and breach contracts. The defendants, allegedly, orchestrated a smear campaign against Baldoni’s film co-star without Jones’ knowledge, then falsely blamed her for it when the truth came out. Abel, who worked at Jonesworks until last summer according to her LinkedIn profile, is accused of continuing to defame and attack Jones as their misconduct uncovers. The lawsuit also claims that Baldoni and Wayfarer breached their contractual obligations with Jonesworks and refused to resolve the dispute privately through arbitration. When contacted for comment, the defendants did not respond.

In an interview with Variety, published on December 23rd, Lively’s lawyers stated that they acquired the texts mentioned in The New York Times article through a subpoena issued to Jonesworks. Freedman, who represents Nathan, Abel, Baldoni, and their Wayfarer associates, further explained to the outlet that none of his clients were served a subpoena concerning this matter. He also indicated his intention to file a lawsuit against Jones for disclosing messages from Abel’s phone to Lively’s legal team.

Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace and Street Relations filed a lawsuit against The New York Times Dec. 31.

In the lawsuit obtained by TopMob News, The New York Times is accused of libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract for its article about a retaliatory smear campaign the plaintiffs allegedly conducted against Lively after she voiced concerns about purported misconduct on set.

Saying the report was “false” and based on Lively’s CRD complaint, the plaintiffs denied the accusations and alleged messages cited in the article and complaint were taken out of context.

“Despite its claim to have ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative,” the lawsuit says, “lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives.”

They also allege “it was Lively, not Plaintiffs, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign.” She has denied this.

The New York Times said it plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”

“The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead,” it stated to TopMob. “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article.”

On the same day, Lively initiated a legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Nathan, Nathan’s company TAG, and Abel in New York. As per court documents obtained by TopMob News, she is accusing the defendants of various offenses including sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, false light invasion of privacy, and aiding and abetting these actions.

The allegations against the defendants were initially detailed in the CRD complaint Lively filed earlier that month. In response to the lawsuit, Baldoni and his associates have filed a counterclaim against The New York Times—which does not list Lively as a defendant. However, her lawyers responded to TopMob stating that “the lawsuit doesn’t alter anything about the claims in her CRD and federal complaints.”

They further explained that the premise of Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was not a ploy to avoid filing a lawsuit against Baldoni, but rather an actual complaint. This assertion is contradicted by the federal complaint filed by Lively earlier that day.

In their legal action against The New York Times, Baldoni and his team made it clear that they have more legal battles ahead. As the court documents indicate, there are other wrongdoers implicated in this matter, and they unequivocally intend to file further lawsuits – possibly including one against Lively.

The conversation surrounding Baldoni and Lively hasn’t ended yet.

For example, social media users have suggested that Reynolds, Lively’s husband, made fun of Baldoni in his movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” through the character Nicepool.

Reynolds has not spoken out about these claims; however, Baldoni’s lawyer Freedman expressed his thoughts on the matter.

“In my opinion,” Freedman stated during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show (available on YouTube as of Jan 7), “if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make light of Justin Baldoni’s situation. You take it seriously. You follow proper procedures and don’t turn it into a joke.

As your trusted lifestyle advisor, I must bring attention to the ongoing legal battle faced by Ms. Lively in the Southern District of New York. This isn’t just a mere disagreement or creative differences; it’s a case of severe sexual harassment and retaliation, supported by solid evidence.

Since filing her lawsuit, Ms. Lively has been subjected to further attacks. These are not innocent skirmishes, but rather unlawful retaliatory tactics aimed at silencing her for standing up for herself and others on a film set. Wayfarer and their associates have resorted to astroturfing, as alleged in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and continue to launch more attacks since the filing of the lawsuit.

During this legal process, it’s crucial to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in any workplace or industry. A common strategy to discredit such misconduct allegations is to shift blame onto the victim. This may involve suggesting they invited the behavior, brought it upon themselves, misunderstood the intentions, or even lied. Another tactic is to switch the roles of the offender and victim.

These strategies serve to minimize and trivialize serious misconduct allegations. It’s essential to recognize that media statements are not a defense against Ms. Lively’s claims, and her lawyers will present their case in court. Let us stand together against such unacceptable behavior and support those who bravely speak out.


 

On January 16th, Baldoni, Heath, Wayfarer, publicist Abel, crisis communication specialist Nathan, and It Ends With Us Movie LLC filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm Vision PR in New York.

The lawsuit, obtained by TopMob News, accuses all defendants of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contractual relations, economic advantage, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage.

Lively and Reynolds were particularly accused of these last three offenses. The plaintiffs refute Lively’s claims of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Instead, they allege that she took control of It Ends With Us and collaborated with Reynolds, Sloane, Jones, and others to damage the plaintiffs’ reputation in the press after she faced criticism for promoting the film. (Lively claims in her filings that she promoted the movie according to Sony’s marketing plan.)

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs claim defendants collaborated with The New York Times to publish a sensational yet untrue report. The media outlet maintains its report’s accuracy. Regarding this matter, Freedman stated to TopMob that either Blake Lively was deceived by her team or she deliberately misled facts.

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but echo the sentiments shared by Lively’s legal team about his lawsuit being labeled as “just another chapter in the abuser’s playbook.” In their statement to TopMob News, they pointed out that this is an all-too-familiar tale: a woman bravely presents solid evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, only for the perpetrator to try and shift the blame onto the victim. This tactic is often referred to as DARVO – Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.

She also claimed that he reacted by counter-attacking after she had brought charges against him. Specifically, she stated that Baldoni is attempting to divert attention away from the fact that Lively took charge creatively and left the rest of the cast feeling estranged from Mr. Baldoni.

It was further stated that the evidence would reveal that both the cast and others had encountered unpleasant interactions with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. Additionally, it will be demonstrated that Sony tasked Ms. Lively to supervise their portion of the film, which they subsequently chose for distribution and turned out to be a massive hit.

Her team went on to slam Baldoni’s reaction to her allegations of harassment.

In a nutshell, their defense against sexual harassment accusations revolves around blaming the victim, implying she wanted it and was at fault. Similarly, they suggest her clothing choice led to the incident. However, as her lawyers point out, this tactic shifts focus from the abuse onto the victim. This approach is desperate and does not counteract the evidence presented in Ms. Lively’s complaint, ultimately leading to its failure.

In simpler terms, Baldoni’s lawyer shared unseen footage from the set of “It Ends With Us“, stating that the actor’s behavior in the video contradicts the way Ms. Lively portrayed him.

According to Baldoni’s lawyers, the particular scene was meant to depict the two characters developing feelings for each other and yearning to be near one another. It’s evident that both actors were acting appropriately, maintaining their roles with respect and professionalism throughout the scene.

Nevertheless, Lively’s legal representatives argue that the video aligns exactly with what Ms. Lively claimed in her lawsuit, stating that every scene was spontaneously created by Mr. Baldoni without prior consultation or approval.

In a statement, TopMob News was informed that the video depicts Ms. Lively leaning back and repeatedly urging the characters to simply converse, a situation many women who have experienced workplace harassment can relate to, as her discomfort mirrors their own.

 

In simpler terms, they wrote a note to the judge managing their case asking him to silence Freedman, who leads Baldoni’s legal team, during the trial to prevent any inappropriate actions.

A seven-minute audio message supposedly sent by Baldoni to Lively during the production of “It Ends With Us” was made public. In this recording, it seems that Baldoni mentioned the film’s rooftop scene which Lively had rewritten and discussed how these modifications were brought up in a supposed meeting with Reynolds and their friend Taylor Swift.

He said, “It’s wonderful to have friends as innovative as them, not just because they’re among the most creative individuals globally, but their collective brilliance is simply astounding when the three of you are together.

In the recording, it appears that Baldoni expressed an apology to the actress regarding his cool response to her script, stating, “I made a mistake. One point to remember about me is that I’ll acknowledge and apologize when I fall short.

Approximately one month following the legal action initiated by Lively, a court hearing was scheduled for March 9, 2026.

According to a report by TopMob News based on obtained documents, Baldoni’s legal team has updated their counterclaim in the U.S. District Court case against Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane, now including The New York Times as well.

In the revised paperwork, Baldoni alleges that Lively and her associates conspired for several months, spreading misinformation to the New York Times.

In my professional opinion, I’d like to clarify a point concerning a case distinct from the $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times. This separate issue accuses the newspaper of selectively choosing and modifying communications, removing essential context along the way. Furthermore, it suggests that these communications were deliberately edited and spliced together in a manner intended to deceive.

I, as a dedicated follower, would like to share that Baldoni has set up a website providing details about his legal dispute with Lively. This site includes the first amended complaint submitted by Baldoni’s team on January 31st, along with a chronology of key events. Among the contents in this timeline, there are reported screenshots of text conversations between Lively, Reynolds, and myself (Baldoni).

The website was unveiled a month following when Freedman announced that they would be publishing every single text exchange between the two parties.

In an interview with NBC News, Baldoni’s lawyer expressed that they desire transparency. They want all relevant documents to be accessible. They believe decisions should be made by the public, using invoices as evidence.

Legal representatives for Lively submitted a revised lawsuit statement, asserting that two additional female crew members from the production of ‘It Ends’ had expressed discomfort due to Baldoni’s on-set conduct.

TopMob News obtained a complaint stating that Ms. Lively wasn’t the only one voicing concerns about Mr. Baldoni. The issues faced by Ms. Lively and others, which began in May 2023, were recorded as they happened. Crucially, contrary to the narrative Defendants have fabricated, Mr. Baldoni admitted to receiving complaints from other women, including Ms. Lively, about his behavior in writing at the time.

In the revised lawsuit, the two potential witnesses mentioned by Lively were not explicitly named because of the potentially harmful environment filled with threats, harassment, and intimidation allegedly instigated by the defendants as part of their alleged retaliation efforts.

To TopMob, Freedman asserted that the accusation was riddled with “insubstantial second-hand information” and suggested that the anonymous individuals who could potentially corroborate her allegations are no longer inclined to do so or validate her statements publicly.

Following Baldoni’s allegations against Sloane of spreading “harmful tales” and falsely depicting him as a “sexual predator,” while also organizing a “defamatory campaign” at Lively’s behest, Sloane chose to request dismissal from the ongoing lawsuit.

According to documents obtained by TopMob News, Sloane’s lawyer claimed that there was no ground for the charges against her and that she had been unfairly involved in the lawsuit as a tactic to divert attention away from Lively’s allegations, using her as a smokescreen.

Nick Shapiro, a previous Deputy Chief of Staff at the CIA, was hired by Lively to offer counsel on the legal communication strategy regarding the ongoing sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. A representative from her litigation team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher confirmed this to Variety on February 28th.

Shapiro, who served for the CIA from 2013 to 2015 during the Obama administration, moved on to become Visa’s vice president of worldwide security and communications, followed by Airbnb’s global chief of crisis management. After spending three years with the rental company, he established his own consultancy firm, 10th Avenue Consulting LLC.

TopMob News reported that The New York Times, currently involved in a $250 million lawsuit with Baldoni, has submitted a request to be released from a separate $400 million lawsuit that also implicates Lively, Baldoni, and Sloane.

In the court documents, the newspaper contended that Baldoni’s team was spinning a biased story that has attracted much attention in the media. However, they emphasized that “The Times” should not be involved in this legal conflict.

In response to a motion from The New York Times, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has approved their request to pause the process of discovery, as reported by TopMob News based on obtained court documents.

The court’s temporary order, asking for a pause in the sharing of information and documents between involved parties, was approved, as the judge reviews the newspaper’s motion filed on February 28th.

In the document dated March 4, Liman pointed out that The New York Times has provided “solid reasons” and a “convincing argument” suggesting that their motion to dismiss could be granted based on its merits.

Additionally, the judge expressed his view that Baldoni’s legal team should not face an unfair disadvantage during the court’s consideration of the ongoing motion, by delaying proceedings with a stay.

In response to TopMob News, a representative from the New York Times commented on the recent ruling, stating, “We are pleased with today’s court decision, which upholds the significant First Amendment principles involved. The court has prevented Mr. Baldoni from imposing discovery requests on The Times in a case that was unnecessary.

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2025-05-21 23:25