Blake Lively Restored Ryan Reynolds’ Faith In Love After He Went Through ‘A Lot Of Pain’ Following Divorce From Scarlett Johansson

Jul 17, 2023

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are one of Hollywood's favorite couples. They have comedic timing and are well-known for their jabs at each other repeatedly on their social media accounts. Reynolds and his partner met on the set of the DC Comics sci-fi film "Green Lantern" in 2010, but they remained mere friends as they were with other people then.  

Reynolds was married to actress Scarlett Johansson, and Lively was dating actor Penn Badgley then. However, Lively's relationship with Badgley ended in October of the same year, while Reynolds and Johansson announced that they were divorcing in December 2010. 

Lively and Reynolds remained friends through this period. They went on a double date with other people to ease the loneliness of their single lives. However, it was at this juncture they realized their feelings for each other. 

“About a year after 'Green Lantern' had come and gone and all that stuff we were both single. We went on a double date. She was on a date with another guy and I was on a date with another girl," Reynolds explained in 2016. "It was like the most awkward date for the respective parties because we were just like fireworks coming across." 

Reynolds was also clear that their friendship helped their relationship. 

"We were buddies for a long time, which I think is the best way to have a relationship, to start as friends," he said.

Reynolds was depressed after his divorce from Johansson and reluctant to believe in love again, but Lively healed his broken heart. On Sept. 9, 2012, they got married at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Keep reading to know about Reynolds' heartbreak and Lively’s impact on his life.

Reynolds and Lively are a famous acting couple who have multiple successful movies under their belt. Reynolds is renowned for the "Deadpool" franchise, while Lively is popular for her roles in "Gossip Girl" and "The Age of Adaline." 

Remarkably, they have made a lot of money from their movies and business enterprises. Reynolds made a lot of money investing in several companies, and Lively owns a non-alcoholic drink brand. She is also an ambassador for a few luxury brands.   

Beyond that, the couple is known to be very generous and empathetic. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they donated $1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Four hospitals in New York also got a share of the largesse when the couple donated $400,000 to them. 

Among many other instances of the couple's philanthropy, "The Hitman's Bodyguard" actor donated over $50,000 of online Aviation revenue to bartenders who lost their jobs in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. for some months. Aviation, a thriving gin brand, is one of the brands the actor has invested in and helped to blow their valuations through his creative and business acumen. A commercial he did for the company pulled millions of views in just a few hours and almost caused the website to shut down with the traffic that surged to it. 

Despite Reynolds' skills and drive, he is also content to sit back and watch his children when necessary so that Lively can pursue her dreams. The father of four took a break from his acting career in 2021 to watch their kids while Lively worked. 

Meanwhile, Lively didn't need to worry since she already taught him everything he needed to know about parenting. 

Parenting is not the only thing Lively taught her spouse. The "Red Notice" star shared in 2017 that Lively taught him empathy and transformed him. The impact of Lively's empathy was demonstrated following Reynolds' divorce after he became depressed.

Reynolds and Johansson divorced just two years after their wedding, and the actor found it hard to move on. 

"Anyone who gets divorced goes through a lot of pain, but you come out of it," he said per Us Weekly at the time. "I'm not out of it yet. At all."

"The Adam Project" actor also wasn't certain he would attempt marriage a second time, as he said, "I don't think I want to get married again." 

He added:

"I'm very happy not to be in a relationship right now. That's okay. I didn't plan on it, that's for sure . . . but that's okay."

 The star added that dating "just seems so kind of alien to me at this point." 

Thankfully, Reynolds’ friendship with Lively caused him to re-evaluate his feelings and change his mind. The timeline of their relationship put their first public appearance in June 2011 when they attended the "Green Lantern" premiere, though they went as friends. 

However, speculations about a romance between the two started in October 2011 during the actor's 35th birthday. Lively celebrated the birthday with him over the weekend, and eyewitnesses saw the duo and their dogs outside a Boston apartment. Reynolds was filming “R.I.P.D.” at the time. 

A source close to the couple confirmed their relationship at the time, as they admitted: 

"They are very much a couple. They’re really happy together." 

Reynolds showed that his fear of getting married was fully gone when he tied the knot with Lively on Sept. 9, 2012, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The pair have been married for nearly 11 years and share four children.  

What do you think of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' love story? Do you believe in true love? Does their story light up your heart? Let us know — and pass this article on to friends, family members and fellow Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively fans.