Blake Lively shocks fans by popping up at unexpected ‘happy place’ as Justin Baldoni feud heats up

The actress has shocked fans by emerging behind the counter at a humble coffee shop, but some critics have slammed the move as a desperate “PR stunt”.

Blake Lively has popped up helping out at a doughnut shop in Connecticut.

The Gossip Girl star surprised fans by working behind the counter at Rise Doughnuts, which she described as her “happy place.”

“baking with genius food friends and their kitchen mixer the size of a car,” Lively wrote on her Instagram Story.

“This is what my happy place looks like,” she added.

Lively, 37, is reportedly friends with the bakery’s owners, Laura Malone and Hugh Mangum.

The avid baker was reportedly in “a really happy mood” while greeting customers and handing out sweet treats, a source told People.

One person who met Lively described her as “sweet and lovely.”

“Being so kind and caring to little ones and being patient to chat and willing to take photos with everyone @risedoughnut whole time,” the fan wrote on Instagram alongside a selfie.

Other customers snapped photos of the actress, who wore a black tank top under a striped apron, glazing different confections and working hard behind the scenes.

While it is unclear whether Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, joined her for the outing, her older sister, Robyn Lively, was seen in a photo obtained by People.

Blake Lively has popped up working from behind the counter in a coffee shop.

The actress helped out staff with baking.

However, some critics online have labelled the move a “PR stunt” amid Lively’s spiralling reputation following theIt Ends With Us legal battle.

“Blake Lively is doing everything she can do to look cool and unbothered amid her legal saga with Justin Baldoni.

This felt like an “I’m a down to earth; every day gal” PR stunt …” one user wrote on X.

“I call this little PR stunt ‘pulling a [Meghan] Markle’,” another said.

“Blake Lively needs new PR,” a third added.

Lively has been embroiled in a legal saga with her co-star Justin Baldoni. Picture: Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP

The eatery is notably just a short drive from Blake and Reynolds’ primary residence near the New York-Connecticut border.

The couple has been spending more time at the sprawling country estate and surrounding small towns rather than the big city amid Lively’s ongoing dispute with Justin Baldoni.

The It Ends With Us co-stars have been locked in a bitter legal battle since December when Blake accused the director, producer Jamey Heath and Wayfarer Studios execs of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

Baldoni vehemently denied the actress’s accusations and responded with a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against her, Reynolds, 48, and their PR team.

Both Blake and the Deadpool star recently filed to dismiss Baldoni’s “vengeful and rambling” lawsuit.

Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds attempted to have Baldoni’s lawsuit dismissed. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The actress claimed Baldoni had “weaponised” defamation allegations as “retaliation” against her and argued that her speech was protected.

However, Baldoni’s lawyer later called their requests “cowardly” and an “abhorrent” example of people trying to “abuse our legal system.”

Their trial is scheduled for March 2026.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Blake Lively shocks fans by popping up at unexpected ‘happy place’ as Justin Baldoni feud heats up