Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds faced a wave of public criticism this week after a highly photographed New York City outing, with social media users accusing the couple of staging the appearance as rumours swirl over a possible rift with Taylor Swift and speculation about her reported wedding plans in the city.
The news came after a bruising few months for Lively, whose protracted legal battle with director Justin Baldoni generated reams of coverage and, through the publication of private messages, dragged Swift into the story. The pair had long been seen as part of the same tight Hollywood circle, which only sharpened interest when fans began to wonder whether that friendship had cooled.
