Ryan Reynolds’ Pep Talk To Blake Lively Before Shady Speech

Ryan Reynolds was caught on camera giving wife Blake Lively some heartfelt encouragement, complete with a few quick kisses, just moments before she took the stage for an emotional speech at the TIME100 Gala Thursday night in New York City.

Blake Lively was honored as one of TIME’s “Most Influential People of 2025” and used her powerful speech to pay tribute to her mother, Willie Elaine McAlpin, who was in the audience alongside Ryan Reynolds.

While it’s unclear exactly what Reynolds told Lively before her speech, the sweet behind-the-scenes moment was captured exclusively by Page Six.

The “Gossip Girl” alum opened up about her mom’s resilience, revealing that McAlpin had been a victim of “the worst crime someone can commit against a woman.” Lively explained how her mother carried “undeserved shame” for much of her life, and stressed the importance of speaking out. “If we name it, we change it,” she said to the crowd at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In a touching moment, Lively also shouted out the good men in her life, thanking “every man,” including her “sweet husband,” for being “kind and good when no one is watching.”

The couple, who began dating in 2011 and tied the knot the following year, share four kids together, James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, 2.

But Lively didn’t stop there.

She also appeared to make a thinly-veiled reference to her ongoing legal war with “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.

The actress is currently suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and alleging that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied the accusations and filed a counter-lawsuit.

Without naming names, Lively addressed the hardships she’s faced recently, telling the audience, “I have so much to say about the last two years of my life, but tonight is not the forum. What I will speak to, separately, is the feeling of being a woman who has a voice today.”

Despite the off-screen chaos, Lively and Reynolds were all smiles as they stepped out looking every bit the A-list dream team. Lively, newly crowned a “Titan” on TIME’s 2025 Most Influential People list, stunned in a bold red gown and shimmering jewelry, while Reynolds kept it sharp and classic in a black tux.

According to TMZ, the “Titan” honor places Lively among heavyweights like Michelle Obama and Bill Gates, individuals recognized not just for their success but for making “a transformative impact on the world.” Reynolds, for his part, was previously recognized by TIME in 2017.

Before their glamorous arrival at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lively took to Instagram to reflect on the major milestone. Sharing a black-and-white portrait from the magazine and a heartfelt excerpt written by civil rights legend Sherrilyn Ifill, Lively called the experience “surreal.”

“To be written about by the great @sherrilynifill is not something I take lightly,” Lively wrote. She praised Ifill for shaping not only the nation but also her own commitment to “never stop believing in a future that’s better and safer for everyone.” Lively added that her 10-year-old self would be “blown away” by the honor.

Justin Baldoni just turned up the heat in his messy legal battle with Blake Lively, and now he’s putting it all online for the world to see.

The “It Ends With Us” director has launched a brand-new website aimed at defending himself against Lively’s explosive sexual harassment lawsuit.

Following Lively’s bombshell December 2024 filing, Baldoni is now fighting back by posting what he claims are “evidence,” specifically private text exchanges between himself and the “Gossip Girl” alum. His legal team, led by powerhouse attorney Bryan Freedman, said the website was created to offer a “transparent, factual account of events” and promises to be “regularly updated” as the case unfolds.

The website remains live as of April 25.