As Blake Lively's court date approaches, her longtime friend and director Paul Feig insists she's not letting the legal drama affect her spirit. Feig, who directed Lively in both A Simple Favor and its sequel, shared his support while attending the 2026 Oscars red carpet.
"Blake is great. She's great," Feig told Extra. "She's just soldiering on and she's such a great mom—that's the biggest part of her life. She continues to be wonderful." He also praised her family life with husband Ryan Reynolds, noting, "Their kids are great and she has a happy marriage. I love her."
Blake Lively and Paul Feig. Raymond Hall/GC Images
Feig has been a vocal supporter since Lively's legal battle with Justin Baldoni began in December 2024. She filed a lawsuit accusing her It Ends With Us costar and director of sexual harassment on set and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Immediately after the allegations surfaced, Feig issued a statement defending Lively, calling her "one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I've ever worked with." He added, "She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign. I think it's awful she was put through this."
A year later, when Another Simple Favor debuted on streaming amid the ongoing legal drama, Feig dismissed rumors of tension between Lively and costar Anna Kendrick. "Blake is an amazing collaborator," he told Esquire. "When the gang on the internet get up in arms about something, it's just like, 'Guys, you don't know what you're talking about.' I love working with Blake—she's just the best."
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Mike Marsland/WireImage; Araya Doheny/TheEntBase via Getty
Following Lively's December 2024 complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, she filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, setting the stage for the upcoming trial.
