Blake Lively Was 'Nervous' to Return to Spotlight atSNL 50thamid Legal Battle but Had 'Great Time' (Exclusive Source)

Mar. 15, 2025

Blake Lively on Feb. 16, 2025.Photo:TheStewartofNY/WireImage

TheStewartofNY/WireImage

Blake Livelystepped out for a red carpet comeback as her legal battle withJustin Baldonicontinues.The actressattended the star-studded live taping ofSNL50: The Anniversary Specialin New York City on Sunday, Feb. 16.Lively and husbandRyan Reynoldsarrived with herAnother Simple Favordirector Paul Feigas the couple marked their first joint public appearance since she sued herIt Ends With Uscostar Baldoni.“They had a great time,” a source tells PEOPLE. “It was nice getting out of the house and being around friends and familiar faces.“The source adds that Lively, 37, was “nervous” to return to the spotlight but still “excited to be out with friends and supportSaturday Night Live"for its milestone anniversary. (Lively hosted the sketch series in 2009.)Paul Feig, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Woody Harrelson on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty"They stayed after the live show wrapped and mingled in the studio and were talking with everyone from Ben Stiller to Paul McCartney,” says the source. “They spent time talking with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson too. Blake also chatted with Dakota Johnson.“Lively also hugged Amy Schumer as they caught up at the event, as seen invideoshared on social media. The source says, “It sounded like she was lending support,” after Schumer previously shared an “I believe Blake” message online in December.Blake Lively and Dakota Johnson on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via GettyDuring theSNL50special, Reynolds, 48, participated in a bit from the audience as Lively sat beside him. Before a larger gag about the Coneheads,Reynolds seemingly made a joke about the headline-making legal battlewith Baldoni, 41.When Reynolds stood up to ask a question, Tina Fey asked him, “How’s it going?” The actor quickly responded, “Great, why? What have you heard?” as the audience laughed.Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Noam Galai/NBC via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In December,Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him and others of sexual harassmentand a retaliatory smear campaign, which he denies. He countersued Lively, Reynolds and their publicist in January, alleging defamation and extortion. Her lawyers called his lawsuit “meritless.“Lively’s next film, a sequel to 2018’sA Simple Favorwith Anna Kendrick, isset to open the 2025 SXSW Festival on March 7in Austin, Texas.

Blake Livelystepped out for a red carpet comeback as her legal battle withJustin Baldonicontinues.

The actressattended the star-studded live taping ofSNL50: The Anniversary Specialin New York City on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Lively and husbandRyan Reynoldsarrived with herAnother Simple Favordirector Paul Feigas the couple marked their first joint public appearance since she sued herIt Ends With Uscostar Baldoni.

“They had a great time,” a source tells PEOPLE. “It was nice getting out of the house and being around friends and familiar faces.”

The source adds that Lively, 37, was “nervous” to return to the spotlight but still “excited to be out with friends and supportSaturday Night Live"for its milestone anniversary. (Lively hosted the sketch series in 2009.)

Paul Feig, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Woody Harrelson on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty

NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty

“They stayed after the live show wrapped and mingled in the studio and were talking with everyone from Ben Stiller to Paul McCartney,” says the source. “They spent time talking with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson too. Blake also chatted with Dakota Johnson.”

Lively also hugged Amy Schumer as they caught up at the event, as seen invideoshared on social media. The source says, “It sounded like she was lending support,” after Schumer previously shared an “I believe Blake” message online in December.

Blake Lively and Dakota Johnson on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Kevin Mazur/NBC via Getty

During theSNL50special, Reynolds, 48, participated in a bit from the audience as Lively sat beside him. Before a larger gag about the Coneheads,Reynolds seemingly made a joke about the headline-making legal battlewith Baldoni, 41.

When Reynolds stood up to ask a question, Tina Fey asked him, “How’s it going?” The actor quickly responded, “Great, why? What have you heard?” as the audience laughed.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on Feb. 16, 2025.NBC/Noam Galai/NBC via Getty

NBC/Noam Galai/NBC via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In December,Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him and others of sexual harassmentand a retaliatory smear campaign, which he denies. He countersued Lively, Reynolds and their publicist in January, alleging defamation and extortion. Her lawyers called his lawsuit “meritless.”

Lively’s next film, a sequel to 2018’sA Simple Favorwith Anna Kendrick, isset to open the 2025 SXSW Festival on March 7in Austin, Texas.

source: people.com