Despite a dramatic year filled with court dates and messy headlines, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds looked like they didn't have a care in the world during a New York City outing this week. Photos of their date quickly hit the internet, but they sparked a wave of backlash.
© The Grosby GroupThe pics went from day to night with some sweet and hilarious moments, like Lively playfully patting Reynolds' butt as he looked back at the camera.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe couple stopped for selfies with fans, and at one point, Reynolds even gave his wife a piggyback ride down the sidewalk after she spent what seemed like hours in her Louis Vuitton heels.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupAfter DeuxMoi shared images from the outing, the comment section quickly filled with accusations that the entire thing was staged. "This pap walk was written and directed by Blake, right?" one of the most-liked comments read.
Others were even harsher, saying things like Reynolds was wearing a "full face of makeup." "You just know they called the paparazzi on themselves." "This is so staged." "It screams damage control," others wrote.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupCelebrity blogger Perez Hilton also joined the conversation, joking, "How kind of their bodyguard to stay out of frame so the paparazzi could get those clean shots for this staged outing."
Another commenter sarcastically wrote, "We're just wandering around NYC, being our fun and friendly selves! This was in no way done on purpose in an attempt to shift public perception of us."
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe criticism comes as Lively continues to face scrutiny following her lengthy legal battle with Justin Baldoni, which dominated headlines for months and unexpectedly pulled Taylor Swift into the conversation after private messages were made public.
And the timing isn't lost on fans. The outing took place in New York City, the same city where Swift and Travis Kelce are rumored to be preparing for what could be one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings in years.
TMZ reports that more than 1,000 guests are expected to attend the celebration, with Madison Square Garden reportedly booked for multiple days surrounding the event.
According to TMZ, Swift and Kelce personally reached out to guests by phone and text. Lively and Swift were once among Hollywood's closest friends, regularly appearing together at football games, parties, and family celebrations. Swift is even Lively and Reynold's children's godmother. But there has been speculation about a falling out ever since Swift became entangled in Lively's legal drama.
© GettyDespite reports suggesting she may not receive an invitation, sources claim Lively remains hopeful that the friendship can be repaired."
Blake genuinely believes there's still a path back," an insider recently told Rob Shuter, per StyleCaster. "Now that the legal mess is over, she thinks the hardest part is behind her." Another source claimed Lively is so confident they'll reconcile that she already has a wedding guest dress picked out. Whether that invitation arrives remains to be seen.
For now, Lively appears far more interested in reminding the world that she's still completely obsessed with her husband. Over the last few weeks, the actress has repeatedly turned Reynolds into the star of her social media feed.
Earlier this month, she shared a photo of him carrying a tiny Hermès Kelly bag while leaning against a counter. "My account has officially turned into an OnlyFans," she joked.
The post followed another series of Reynolds appreciation uploads, including a cookie date selfie and a close-up shot of his biceps set to Justin Bieber's "Yummy."
But Reynolds shares the love, too. On Mother's Day, he called Lively "the absolute love of my life" and praised her as the heart of their family. The couple shares four children together: James, Inez, Betty, and Olin.
