As Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds face intense legal battles with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni, longtime friend Hugh Jackman finds himself unexpectedly caught in the fallout

Hugh Jackman is facing online backlash after appearing to cosy up with longtime friend Ryan Reynolds(Image: Variety via Getty Images)

Hugh Jackman is facing online backlash after appearing to cosy up with longtime friend Ryan Reynolds, who is currently caught in the crossfire of a messy and very public legal saga involving his wife, Blake Lively.

Lively, 37, recently accused It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni of sexual misconduct and orchestrating a defamation campaign against her. Baldoni, 41, has since launched a countersuit, dragging both Lively and Reynolds into the legal drama, alleging they defamed him. All sides continue to deny any wrongdoing.

Despite the controversy swirling around the couple, Jackman, 56, seemed unbothered as he posed for a cheerful snapshot alongside Reynolds and Deadpool and Wolverine producer Shawn Levy at the premiere of Lively’s latest project, Another Simple Favor. He posted the image to Instagram with the simple caption: “We 3. Simple as that.”

Hugh Jackman has been warned about being friends with Ryan Reynolds (Image: GC Images)

While the photo was warmly received by some, it ignited a brutal response from others as fans cautioned Jackman to rethink his friendship group. One follower warned: “You look great together but Ryan is trouble, might wanna stay away from that side for awhile.”

Another added: “The more I hear about him and Blake, the more a break is needed if you want to keep your head above water.” Someone else commented: “I love Hugh but maybe he should not associate with these people any longer.”

The criticism didn’t stop there as a particularly disheartened fan declared: “Very close to unfollowing HJ as well… very disappointing that he is co-signing this behavior.”

However, the comments weren’t entirely one-sided. Supporters of Jackman pushed back against the backlash, condemning the idea of pressuring someone to cut ties over allegations still under legal scrutiny. One user argued: “Telling someone to drop their friends, when you don’t even know anyone in the situation you are talking about… That’s pretty messed up.”

Hugh is close with both Blake and Ryan(Image: Getty Images)

The legal standoff first gained traction in December, when Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni, citing detailed accounts of harassment and deliberate efforts to undermine her professionally. Her move came months after she discreetly initiated legal proceedings in September, reportedly aiming to gain access to compromising messages from Baldoni’s publicist.

Baldoni’s legal team struck back in January with a countersuit, accusing both Lively and Reynolds of defamation. Among the filings were purported text exchanges in which Lively described Reynolds and pop star Taylor Swift as her “dragons” – a term now under intense scrutiny.

Public support for Lively has been noticeably muted, even among her A-list friends, with many surprised at the silence from her inner circle. And as the legal case unfolds and the reputations of all involved hang in the balance, Hugh Jackman’s public closeness with Reynolds has become a big issue for fans.