Humphrey Ker, a key director at Wrexham AFC, has publicly expressed his sympathy for the club's Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds and his wife, actress Blake Lively, as they continue to navigate a complex and draining legal dispute.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
The legal feud involves film director and actor Justin Baldoni, who co-starred with Lively in the 2024 movie It Ends with Us. The conflict began in December 2024 when Lively initiated legal proceedings against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni retaliated with his own lawsuit, targeting not only Lively but also her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and the New York Times. His claims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy were, however, dismissed by a court in June 2025. Despite this victory for the couple, Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni remains active and ongoing.
Wrexham as a Sanctuary
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ker shed light on the personal toll the situation has taken. "Ryan and Blake have obviously been slightly through the ringer over the last 18 months with all of that business and are still going through that in some ways," he revealed.
Ker explained that the issue fluctuates in public attention but continues to "rumble on in the background." He believes that their involvement with Wrexham provides a crucial escape from the Hollywood pressures. "What they love about coming to Wrexham is that no one there gives two s**** about [their celebrity]," Ker stated. "What they care about is whether he'll buy them a new centre back. It's an escape. But yeah, I feel for them."
Personal Plans for a UK Move
In a revealing personal aside, Ker also discussed his own potential relocation from the United States to the United Kingdom. Having lived in California for the past 12 years with his wife, writer Megan Ganz, Ker cited political unrest in the US as a significant factor.
"We're now quite eager to move back, for a variety of reasons - some of which I don't want to print, because I'll get thrown in a detention centre," he remarked. He noted that this is a growing trend, saying, "Loads of American friends are moving here now. I know about five or six couples who've just gone, 'You know what? We've had enough.'"
Ker was instrumental in the club's Hollywood takeover in 2021, having first sparked co-owner Rob McElhenney's interest in football during the Covid-19 lockdown. He was tasked with finding the right club, ultimately selecting Wrexham, which has since achieved three successive promotions.
