Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Absent from 2026 Oscars Amid Legal Proceedings

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds missed the 98th Academy Awards amid court hearings for Lively’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni and a trip to Wales.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:43 AM EDT

Source: BAZAAR

Legal Battle Takes Precedence Over Red Carpet

The primary reason for the couple’s absence is the ongoing legal dispute between Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The pair has spent recent months attending court-mandated settlement hearings in New York City. The case stems from claims filed by Lively in December 2024 involving allegations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign, following the famously tense press tour for their 2024 film. The trial is currently scheduled to begin this May.

Football and Family Time in Wales

When not in the courtroom, the parents of four have chosen the football pitch over the Dolby Theatre. Last week, the couple was spotted in Wales, where they spent a day off cheering on Reynolds’s co-owned team, Wrexham, during their Emirates FA Cup match against Chelsea. Their preference for sporting events over high-profile awards shows has been a recurring theme for the duo over the past two years.

A History of Oscar Absence

Despite their massive star power, Lively and Reynolds have never actually attended the Academy Awards as a couple. Reynolds last graced the Oscars stage solo in 2010 to present a Best Picture nominee, but the pair has yet to make a joint appearance on the ceremony’s red carpet. With neither star receiving a nomination this year—and Reynolds's 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine notably overlooked by the Academy—there was little professional incentive for them to make the cross-country trip to Los Angeles.