Rob McElhenney has publicly shown support to his friend Ryan Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, amid their legal battle with actor and director Justin Baldoni.
Speaking to Variety, McElhenney and his wife, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-star Kaitlin Olson, said they were trying to support the couple in a way which “doesn’t just simply add oxygen to the fire”.
McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham football club with Reynolds, said: “It’s just our way of staying connected and navigating something together.
“And also me giving and showing as much support as I possibly can with all the other stuff that [Reynolds] has got going on, that I know is so difficult and challenging. We both are just trying to offer our support in any way that we can that doesn’t just simply add oxygen to the fire.”
Lively launched a lawsuit against Baldoni in December last year, alleging he sexually harassed her on the set of the romantic drama, which he also directed.
Baldoni denied the claims and countersued with a $400 million defamation suit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of trying to destroy his career.
Baldoni returned to social media earlier this month, for his first grid post since promoting the film, paying tribute to his wife Emily and his mother Sharon for Mother’s Day.
He shared a photo with them and his and Emily’s two kids, Maiya, nine, and Maxwell, seven, on Instagram.
“My mom gave us faith. My wife is the definition of it. Our children are growing up in the fortress of that love. Happy Mother’s Day to all,” the Jane The Virgin star wrote.
Lively recently hinted at the case on Late Night With Seth Meyers, saying: “What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my life and I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially right now, afraid to share their experiences, and fear is by design.
“It's what keeps us silent. But I also acknowledge that many people don't have the opportunity to speak.”
