Ryan Reynolds buys another football team amid Justin Baldoni lawsuit

Ryan Reynolds Expanding his football empire!

this Deadpool and Wolverine star and his Wrexham AFC co-owners, Rob McElhenneywas named on Thursday, January 16, as one of a group of investors poised to take over Colombian top flight club Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros.

According to Bloomberg and ESPN reports, this investor group is led by real estate investors Artiles and director of football Sam Porterboth own shares in Mexican soccer team Necaxa. Other investors include actress Eva Longoriasupermodel Kate Upton and Upton’s husband, Major League Baseball pitcher Justin Verlander.

“We welcome Al Tylis and Sam Porter, who arrive with a clear long-term vision that will continue to strengthen our club,” La Equidad said in a statement released via X on Thursday. “This is a step towards a future full of opportunities. first step.”

“Al Tellis and Sam Porter not only have a wealth of experience in the sports world, but they also have Eva Longoria, Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Verlander, Supported by celebrities such as Kate Upton, Sean Marion and Scott Galloisy,” the statement continued.

Reynolds, 48, and McElhenney, 47, took over ownership of Welsh side Wrexham in 2021, helping the club gain global recognition thanks in part to their FX documentary, welcome to wrexham. Tylis bought a small stake in Wrexham in April 2024, while Reynolds and McElhenney invested in Necaxa, according to Bloomberg.

News of Reynolds’ latest investment came on the same day he was named as a defendant in a $400 million lawsuit. Justin Baldonihis wife Blake Livelyof It all ends with us Co-starring and directing.

According to the filing documents obtained us weekly On Thursday, Baldoni, 40, accused Lively Reynolds, 37, and Lively’s publicist of Leslie Sloancivil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and other claims. In the lawsuit, Baldoni claims he was pressured by Reynolds and a “super celebrity friend” of Lively’s to accept the actress’ changes to the film’s script.

Related: “This Is Us” synopsis, reported by Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

Updated 1/16/25 12:43pm ET: Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios Reveals It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively on Thursday, January 16 and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, filed a $400 million lawsuit. Foley was “determined” to make him a “real-life villain in her story.” […]

Bardoni’s lawyer Brian Friedmanshared in a statement us”, “This lawsuit is a legal proceeding based on a substantial body of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s attempts to undermine the Destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies.

The statement continued: “Based on our full willingness to provide all of the complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence shared by both parties in real time, it is clear that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret.” Leigh was either grossly misled by her team or deliberately misrepresented the facts.

Related: Every new claim in Justin Baldoni’s $400 million Blake Lively lawsuit

Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively continues with an explosive new lawsuit. According to documents obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, January 16, Bardoni, 40, is suing Lively, 37, her publicist Leslie Sloan and Ryan Reynolds for civil extortion, defamation, falsehood Information invasion of privacy and other charges. […]

Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni on December 31, 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.

us Lively’s representative and co-defendant Sloan was contacted for comment Thursday but did not receive a response.