Blake Lively celebrates birthday with family while legal battle intensifies

Hollywood actress Blake Lively has chosen family over glitz and glamour as she quietly marked her 38th birthday.

The Gossip Girl alum, who is widely admired across the globe, celebrated her big day with husband Ryan Reynolds and their four children amid an ongoing legal dispute that continues to make headlines.

According to People magazine, Lively opted for a low-key celebration surrounded by her closest loved ones. A source revealed that the actress has been focusing on her family throughout the summer. “She’s having a great summer. It’s mostly been about family time.

She’s grateful for Ryan’s support over the past year,” the insider said. Lively and Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s most popular couples, share three daughters and a son.

Sources say the actress has enjoyed travelling with her family in recent months and is prioritising peace and quiet over star-studded parties.

“Spending time with Reynolds and their four kids unwinds her. She is looking forward to some quiet time,” another insider added.

The choice to keep her birthday private reflects Lively’s current lifestyle, as she steps away from the constant glare of the Hollywood spotlight to embrace moments of normalcy with her children.

Just days before her birthday, Lionsgate announced that Lively would headline and produce a new action rom-com titled The Survival List. This marks her first major project after wrapping up It Ends With Us, a drama film that placed her back in the centre of Hollywood discussions.

Industry experts see this new project as a significant step for Lively, who has gradually transitioned from teen drama fame in Gossip Girl to more serious and diverse roles in cinema. Her ability to balance acting and producing showcases her evolution as an all-rounder in Hollywood.

While her professional career continues to thrive, Lively is also fighting a legal battle against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The actress has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations that he strongly denies. A trial date has been set for March 2026, keeping the matter in the public eye for months to come.

Back in June, Lively openly addressed the issue through a heartfelt social media post. She wrote: “Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for those who stand by me.”

Despite the ongoing controversy, sources close to the actress emphasise that family remains her number one priority. Her decision to spend her birthday away from the limelight highlights how she is coping with stress by surrounding herself with her husband and children.