Blake Lively made her first red carpet appearance during Sunday’s “Saturday Night Live 50: The Anniversary Special” since suing her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.
Amid reports that the actress was “nervous” to be in the spotlight once more, a body language expert tells Page Six exclusively that she managed to hide it well.
Judi James explains that Lively showed “signs of stoicism” when she joined her husband, Ryan Reynolds, on the red carpet.
The “Gossip Girl” alum, 37, also showed “confidence and defiance” by “placing one hand on her waist and splaying the elbow out […] and throwing her head back in the same projected mode.”
On the other hand, James notes that her interactions with Reynolds, 48, in front of photographers seemed rehearsed and awkward despite her clear signs of confidence.
“Initially, both seem intending to smile for the cameras, but those smiles look forced as they start to build on their faces,” the expert points out.
“Ryan quickly turns to whisper in Blake’s ear though which serves a couple of positive purposes. The ‘I’ve got a secret’ pose of ear-whispering suggests closeness and even some flirting. It also works in terms of making Blake laugh and Ryan follows up the whispering with an eyebrow flash gesture, which is a popular and positive tie-sign.”
Nonetheless, the couple seemed to put on a united front when they stepped out on the red carpet.
The “Deadpool” actor also put on a show when he made a quick cameo during a Q&A segment on the three-hour special episode with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
When asked how he was doing, he responded, seemingly hinting at his legal battle, “Great! Why, what have you heard?”
Lively, who was sitting right next to him, looked up in shock — which James also confirms as an act.
James points out that Lively is “wearing a complex smile” and “her eyes are narrowed in an approving eye-smile” when the skit starts.
“Blake’s subtle smile becomes a wider grin with some laughter but, as she hears Ryan’s last line, her head snaps round and up and her smile vanishes,” she explains.
“They look like a well-synchronized double act for this studio appearance.”
The last time that Lively and Reynolds — who have been married since 2012 and share four children — attended a red carpet was during the premiere of “It Ends With Us” in August 2024.
At the time, Lively and Baldoni sparked feud rumors when they went on separate press tours to promote the movie and even posed separately at premieres.
Amid claims that Lively and Baldoni butted heads over the direction of the movie, she dropped a major bombshell in December 2024 when she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment in a lawsuit.
The “Jane the Virgin” alum, 41, denied Lively’s claims and filed a $400 million lawsuit against her and Reynolds for alleged defamation and extortion. He also filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times for its reporting on the lawsuit.
Although the two have gone to lengths to discredit each other, Lively’s legal team recently subpoenaed Baldoni’s text messages to try and gather evidence about his alleged smear campaign against her.
Lively and Baldoni’s respective legal teams also requested that they be exempt from the district court’s mediation program.
A trial date has been set for March 2026.
