In the midst of a media storm, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds find themselves fighting a battle that could forever alter their public image and professional trajectories. Behind the glittering facade of Hollywood success, a sinister web of allegations, legal maneuvers, and potential financial ruin is unfolding—one that includes a $90 million motive aimed at destroying actor Justin Baldoni. The stakes have never been higher, and insiders reveal a chilling story of deceit, corporate intrigue, and the ruthless pursuit of self-preservation.

The Battle for Control: A Smear Campaign or Strategic PR?

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been quick to distance themselves from the drama surrounding Wayfair’s legal battle. In fact, both have gone so far as to file a motion to strike a key deposition from the public record—an effort that, according to sources, is less about legal defense and more about safeguarding their image.

At the heart of the controversy is a deposition that Blake Lively gave on July 31, 2025, in connection to Wayfair’s counter-suit. In this confidential testimony, Lively allegedly claimed that the only smear campaign she was aware of was the one initiated against her by Wayfair itself. This revelation could destroy the carefully crafted public persona of both Lively and Reynolds. But their lawyers have gone to extreme lengths to keep it sealed, attempting to ensure that the 292-page transcript never sees the light of day.

But why such a strong push to prevent the public from seeing the details? According to insiders, the stakes are far more than just legal maneuvers—they involve the future of Reynolds’ company, Mntn, which is set to go public in 2025. The launch of the IPO, which was meant to coincide with the success of “Deadpool 3” and “It Ends With Us,” could be in serious jeopardy if any more negative attention is directed towards the couple.

Sources close to the situation claim that Lively and Reynolds have used this legal dispute to shift the blame for a major marketing failure on to Wayfair, thereby protecting their investment in Mntn and keeping their public image intact.

The $90M Motive: How the IPO Crisis Took Over

Here’s where it gets even more interesting. According to an insider from the banking industry, the Mntn IPO was supposed to be a huge success, making Reynolds and his business partners millions of dollars. The IPO had been years in the making, with Reynolds at the forefront as the “creative genius” behind the company. It was marketed to investors as an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a major digital marketing firm, with Reynolds’ celebrity power being used as a selling point.

However, things began to unravel when the marketing efforts tied to Blake Lively’s “It Ends With Us” project failed to meet expectations. Rather than taking responsibility for the blunder, sources claim that Reynolds and Lively allegedly tried to shift the blame onto Wayfair, hoping to salvage their company’s reputation and protect the financial success of the IPO.

The insider goes even further, suggesting that Reynolds stood to lose $90 million if the IPO didn’t succeed. His role as the creative force behind Mntn was essential to its value. As a result, any negative publicity surrounding the couple, including the ongoing legal battles, could seriously threaten the company’s public offering.

PR, or a Scheme to Cover Up a Massive Financial Blunder?

As the legal back-and-forth continued, rumors began to swirl that Reynolds and Lively were trying to manipulate the media narrative surrounding their involvement in the marketing for “It Ends With Us.” In fact, the couple allegedly orchestrated a series of high-profile public appearances and magazine covers in an effort to rebrand themselves as a “power couple” whose influence could only drive the success of their business ventures.

In a particularly intriguing moment at the Time 100 event, an insider claims that Reynolds whispered to Lively, “I need this more than you do.” This moment, seemingly insignificant at the time, could have been part of a larger strategy to ensure that Lively delivered the right message to the press, further bolstering their carefully curated image ahead of the IPO launch.

The truth behind their marketing tactics, however, is much murkier. According to sources, Blake and Ryan were involved in an elaborate scheme to protect their financial interests, manipulating everything from magazine covers to red carpet appearances, all in an attempt to sway investor confidence and deflect the negative media attention surrounding their legal troubles.

The Fallout: The IPO, the Lawsuit, and the Public Perception

By the time Mntn’s IPO went live, in May 2025, the damage had already been done. Reynolds was no longer as deeply involved with the company, and his stake in the public offering was far less significant than originally anticipated. Moreover, the IPO launch was anything but smooth. The company had to contend with the fallout from its marketing failures and the growing public perception that the couple had used their media influence to obscure the truth about their legal entanglements.

Additionally, the company faced legal challenges of its own, including lawsuits for intellectual property theft, which further tarnished its reputation. With the Wayfair lawsuit looming large, it became apparent that Reynolds’ attempt to shift blame had not worked. Instead, it seemed as if the couple’s calculated PR campaign had backfired, leaving Mntn vulnerable to public scrutiny and investor doubt.

Despite their best efforts to spin the situation, the truth about their actions and the $90 million motive behind their desperate maneuvers is slowly coming to light. And the public’s trust in Reynolds and Lively is fading fast, as more details emerge about their role in the marketing disaster and the questionable tactics they used to protect their financial interests.

The Bottom Line: Did Ryan and Blake’s Reputation Cost Them $90 Million?

While the official narrative around the Mntn IPO has yet to be fully revealed, it is clear that the stakes for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are much higher than previously thought. What started as a legal battle over a smear campaign has morphed into a crisis of public perception and a fight for their financial future.

With allegations of financial manipulation, media manipulation, and corporate deception swirling around them, it remains to be seen whether the couple can repair the damage done to their reputation—and whether Mntn can recover from the financial fallout caused by their desperate efforts to control the narrative.

The $90 million question remains: Was their PR scheme worth it? Or did their attempt to cover up their failures cost them far more than they ever anticipated? Only time will tell.