Ryan Reynolds secretly ran Blake Lively's failed brand ‘like a tyrant' amid toxic workplace allegations: Reports
's failed lifestyle venture, Preserve and the portrait painted by former employees isn't pretty.
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While Lively launched the site in 2014 with the ambition of taking on wellness giants like Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, the brand shuttered within a year.
Now, a behind-the-scenes expose shared by Radar Online suggests the collapse may have been driven by what staffers describe as a toxic, chaotic work environment led by none other than Reynolds himself.
Ryan reportedly controlled decisions behind the scenes
Despite never holding an official title at Preserve, sources told Rob Shuter via his Substack that Reynolds often acted as the creative and financial lead without being listed on any org chart.
One former team member said, 'He was everywhere, acting like the CEO, creative director and CFO all rolled into one. And disagreeing with him wasn't an option.'
Insiders claim Reynolds regularly belittled staff, rewrote their work and would vanish for days before returning to blame others for missed deadlines. 'He mocked people, tore apart their ideas and made sure only his circle got paid on time,' one employee shared.
Blake's role reportedly minimal as brand struggled to survive
Meanwhile, Lively who is known for her role in 'Gossip Girl' and 'A Simple Favor' was described as mostly absent. 'Blake barely showed up,' one former staffer claimed. 'And when Ryan did, it was worse.' The hiring of Blake's brother Eric Lively as creative director allegedly pushed by Reynolds was also slammed. 'Eric was in over his head,' one employee said.
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'He had no experience and didn't know how to run a company.'
Basic work conditions were reportedly poor. Some employees described having to sit on the floor due to a lack of desks, despite the site's focus on selling high-end lifestyle products.
Controversy escalates amid ongoing lawsuit drama
Adding to the controversy, some insiders found it 'deeply ironic' that Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni in December 2024, alleging inappropriate behavior on set, given the chaotic and allegedly abusive environment at her own company.
Baldoni has since fired back with a staggering $400 million countersuit against both Lively and Reynolds. According to RadarOnline, Taylor Swift's name also became entangled in the legal battle before Baldoni's team eventually withdrew their subpoenas targeting the pop icon.
On May 22 Lively's spokesperson confirmed that Swift and her legal team were no longer involved, stating they were 'pleased' the subpoenas were withdrawn.
With a legal showdown set for March 2026, what began as a failed lifestyle brand has unraveled into a full-blown Hollywood scandal. Neither Lively nor Reynolds has commented publicly on the accusations surrounding 'Preserve' but the fallout from both the brand's collapse and the lawsuits is far from over.
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