Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Bring Humor to Time100 Gala Amid Legal Drama

New York City turned up the glamour and the drama as Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds hit the Time100 gala red carpet, smiling wide while keeping their sense of humor—despite the legal storm swirling around them. Lively, radiant in a strapless pink dress and bold green earrings, and Reynolds, dapper in a classic black suit and bow tie, looked every bit the Hollywood power couple as they posed for cameras at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24.

Even as the press ushered them along the carpet, the couple kept things light. Lively quipped, "It's so nice without the yelling." Reynolds, ever the quick wit, replied, "I know, right. It's so cordial." Not missing a beat, he joked further, "We do singles too. Don't worry. She'll leave." And when asked to move down the carpet, Reynolds deadpanned, "I'll f--- off. Don't worry." Honestly, if sarcasm were an Olympic sport, these two would have gold medals.

Beneath the charm, though, real tension simmers. Lively has been named a "Titan" on the Time100 most influential people list—a recognition that’s stirred up plenty of controversy online, especially as her legal battle with actor Justin Baldoni drags on. The two have filed dueling lawsuits over their time filming "It Ends With Us," with Lively accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment—a claim he denies. In turn, Baldoni alleges Lively tormented him and others, and Reynolds himself is caught up in the crossfire, named in the lawsuit for alleged "defamation, false light invasion of privacy, tortious interference, and civil extortion."

Despite the ongoing legal saga, Lively drew praise from civil rights activist Sherrilyn Ifill in her Time100 profile, who lauded Lively’s philanthropy and genuine curiosity about the nation’s toughest issues. Ifill recalled being impressed by Lively’s commitment to learning about gaps in American history and her readiness to support meaningful causes, like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Social media, of course, had its say—critics called Lively’s inclusion on the list a PR move, while fans rallied in her defense, highlighting her donations and advocacy.

The legal hostilities show no sign of cooling off, with neither Lively nor Baldoni budging toward a settlement. The only thing more relentless than their court battle might be the tabloid coverage. But for a night, at least, Lively and Reynolds put on their best faces, tossing out jokes between flashes of the cameras—a reminder that sometimes, humor is the best armor when life gets messy.