Actress Blake Lively is choosing festive family joy to close out what she describes as one of her most difficult years. The 38-year-old star took to Instagram this Sunday, offering her 42 million followers a glimpse into her holiday 'heaven' from within her decorated home.
A Cosy Holiday Sanctuary
Lively, who shares her home with her husband, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, 49, and their four children—James, 11, Inez, nine, Betty, six, and Olin, two—detailed the simple pleasures of her seasonal downtime. In a caption accompanying the festive snapshot, she wrote: 'Nothing better…family, hot cookies, iced cold milk (yes, with ice, iykyk). A fire, Mahjong, a sparkly Britney Spears inspired water bottle, snow outside and a new season of Fixer Upper.'
The Gossip Girl alumna also shared images of her glamorous holiday fashion, including a slinky silver gown, and a night out in New York City with Reynolds. However, this serene domestic scene stands in stark contrast to the professional turmoil that has defined much of her 2025.
The Legal Storm Over 'It Ends With Us'
Lively has spent the majority of 2025 entangled in litigation concerning the production of her 2024 film, It Ends with Us. The legal battle is with the film's director and co-star, Justin Baldoni. In December 2024, Lively initiated a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Her legal filing alleged that Baldoni body-shamed her and orchestrated a smear campaign to damage her reputation. Baldoni, in turn, filed a $400 million lawsuit in January 2025, naming Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist. That suit was dismissed by a court in June 2025. All parties have denied the allegations made against them.
The conflict escalated recently when Lively's attorneys accused Baldoni's legal team of overstepping during depositions. In a December 19 filing reported by Page Six, they objected to 'probative' questioning about Lively's sex life, calling it irrelevant and threatening sanctions. They also cited a 'lack of basic decorum,' including insulting comments and laughter during proceedings.
Focusing on Family as Trial Looms
Despite the ongoing legal headache, with a trial scheduled for May in New York City, Lively is determined to focus on the present. A source close to the actress told People magazine that she is 'staying focused on the present as she heads into the holiday, prioritizing time with her family above all else.'
'While she continues to balance work, including promoting her hair line, her mindset right now is about being a mom and creating a special Christmas for her kids,' the insider added. 'Her mentality is very much "next year is next year," right now, it's all about the kids and family time.'
The film at the centre of the dispute, It Ends with Us, was a commercial success, earning $148 million domestically and $350 million globally. Based on Colleen Hoover's novel, it depicts a toxic relationship between Lively's character, Lily Bloom, and Baldoni's character, Ryle Kincaid. However, its financial achievements have been overshadowed by the very public and acrimonious fallout between its stars.
