What Wrexham fans REALLY think of Blake Lively as she battles to rebuild her reputation – and how she can benefit from the club’s fairytale success

Dressed in a tuxedo, and propped behind a pile of books and DVDs in a shop in Wrexham, Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is a looking a bit limp and tired.

True, he’s had a few things on his mind lately: not least his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing, bitter legal drama with her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni which shows no sign of abating and the ensuing social media storm around the Gossip Girl actress’s ‘mean girl’ behaviour.

Actually, this version of the Deadpool star is a cardboard cutout, but the real Mr Reynolds can do no wrong in this former Welsh coal mining town, just over the English border.

His slightly tatty, life-size frame is often dragged out for photos by obliging second-hand DVD and book shop owner Rob Clarke, when tourists come to visit his store, Mad4Movies – which plenty do.

Those lucky enough to be in town this weekend may have caught a glimpse of the real man himself, who was there with his wife to see his team triumph 3-0 over Charlton Athletic, and win a third historic promotion to reach the Championship. 

And according to Kelly Lundberg, a personal branding expert and the author of Deseed The Lemon, the fairytale success of Wrexham is the perfect opportunity for the embattled actress to burnish her image with a full year to go until her legal battle with Baldoni reaches court. 

Ryan Reynolds (right) has become so beloved in Wrexham thanks to his club’s footballing success experts have suggested it could help out his wife Blake Lively (second right)

The club’s success and the family’s wholesome brand will prove a welcome distraction from Blake’s ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni (pictured Blake)

Blake has made several appearances at the club during the season (pictured with a fan)

Ryan and Blake at the Buildbase FA Trophy Final between Bromley and Wrexham at Wembley Stadium on May 22 2022

‘We’re used to seeing our top celebrities, including Blake, looking immaculate, red-carpet-ready, with flawless makeup and expensive outfits. A-listers appear on our screens, well-rehearsed, pristine and untouchable. What this does – and has always done – is make them seem out of reach, picture-perfect, aspirational,’ she told MailOnline.

‘But, cleverly, what her and her family’s Wrexham appearance could do is strip that all away. They return to being just like us, a family, watching a football team celebrate a win. Instead of seeing them out of reach, they become just like us. One of us.

‘What Wrexham did was to offer a more humanising backdrop: it represents community, sport, family, resilience. This was very much about showing up in a low-key way for maximum impact. Blake’s presence there, alongside her husband Ryan, taps into a narrative that’s relatable and low-key – which is exactly what she needs right now.

‘It showed Blake in a totally different light, stripping away the gloss; no stylists, no soundbites. Just a woman turning up in a parka to support her husband’s football club. In a moment where public trust in her is low, that unfiltered visibility is gold.

‘Personal brands recover best when people show up authentically. Wrexham offered Blake a place to show who she is without the camera-ready version. It’s casual, unscripted and – crucially – it doesn’t feel like a PR play. If she leans into that and does it consistently, not just for the photo op, it could help rebuild credibility in a way red carpets never will.’

According to Kelly, Blake should make the most of any further opportunities to spend time in Wales, or indeed in any environment that is less contrived than the Hollywood red carpet where she’s had a series of awkward appearances recently with her co-star in Another Simple Favor, Anna Kendrick. 

‘By stepping away from high-gloss environments and showing up more authentically – whether in Wales or elsewhere – it allows the public to see a more accessible version of her personal brand to emerge,’ Kelly explained. ‘That doesn’t mean disappearing from the red carpet. It means reframing her visibility in a way that feels emotionally intelligent and self-aware.

So popular are Ryan and his brood that there is a cardboard cutout of the Deadpool star in a DVD store owned by Rob Clarke (right)

And what people will relate to is seeing Blake as a normal wife and mother supporting her husband, rather than a glossy Hollywood star

Ryan and Blake typically look immaculate, red-carpet-ready, with flawless makeup and expensive outfits (pictured together in 2022)

The couple pictured together (centre) on April 26 at Wrexham’s ground

Blake has been spotted eagerly interacting with the crowds at matches

‘Let’s face it, the premieres for Another Simple Favor aren’t doing her any favours. Wrexham, on the other hand, allows her to be witnessed rather than watched. There’s no expectation to perform. No pressure to be perfect. And most importantly, there’s no script. In Wrexham, Blake can simply be someone’s wife, a football fan, a woman showing up without the polish. That’s a personal brand strategy that sidesteps the PR machine and connects on a deeper level.’

And what people will relate to is seeing Blake as a normal wife and mother supporting her husband, rather than a glossy Hollywood star.  

‘The Wrexham story works because it’s rooted in something real and relatable,’ said Kelly. ‘It’s about underdogs achieving incredible things – and we all love those stories. It’s also about transformation, heart, determination, all qualities that we admire.

‘There’s nothing fake, glossed over or created. There’s a community spirit that isn’t manufactured or media-trained. When Blake appears in that context – dressed down, relaxed, cheering alongside locals – the contrast to her current Hollywood narrative is striking. She’s no longer a headline or a controversy. She’s not the star of the show; she’s on the sidelines, along with the rest of the fans. She’s simply a woman supporting her husband (who is doing incredible things with his team) and connecting with real people.

‘To capitalise on this, Blake doesn’t need a formal PR campaign. What she needs is consistency. She should continue to show up without the gloss: supporting grassroots causes, engaging with locals, and being visible in a way that feels unfiltered. Small, genuine moments – not big gestures – will shift the tone of the conversation.

‘Wrexham works because it has earned its authenticity. It’s not about money or fame – it’s about grit, hope and community pride. It’s about winning on an entirely different level. It’s a redemption arc with working-class roots, and in many ways, it mirrors what Blake needs: a rebuild from the ground up.

‘If she plays this right, Wrexham really could be the pivot point that realigns her entire public brand.

Meanwhile, her husband Ryan, 48, and the US TV star (and creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) actor Rob McElhenney, also 48, are nothing less than heroes in this town (population 44,781: city status was conferred on Wrexham three years ago, but it’s still the town to its residents) since they bought the local football club, Wrexham A.F.C, for £2 million, nearly five years ago.

Ryan and the US TV star (and creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) actor Rob McElhenney (centre), also 48, are nothing less than heroes in this town

They turned its fortunes around and prompted the hugely popular TV documentary series, Welcome to Wrexham, which has received several BAFTA nominations (pictured)

Their success has the attracted the attention of fellow A-listers David Beckham and Will Ferrell who have both attended games

Ryan has also received a visit from King Charles III at the ground (pictured 2022)

Rob and Ryan celebrating with the Vanarama National League trophy as Wrexham won the Vanarama National League and were promoted to the English Football League (2023)

They turned its fortunes around and prompted the hugely popular TV documentary series, Welcome to Wrexham, which has received several BAFTA nominations.

Earlier this month a fourth season was announced by Disney+ – leading many to hope there will be many more visits from Hollywood royalty to come, so the good folk of Wrexham can pay homage to, and pose for a photograph, with the real Ryan (plus his uber-glamorous wife, of course).

Bookshop owner Rob still chuckles at the memory of when the two Rs rolled up back in 2022: ‘Ryan came in and said he’d never seen so many movies [the stock of DVDs], and this encounter got in the documentary. He said: ‘There must be one you’ve never sold, that’s been here for years,’ and I said, ‘well, we won’t talk about the Green Lantern, which is a known flop of his, and he laughed and said something like, ‘I don’t think even the editors could sell that one.’

Rob still has the film in question, now adorned with a message from its superhero star: ‘Apologies in advance, Ryan.’

The actor, and father of four, was back in Wrexham and in the stands again this weekend to see his team triumph 3-0 over Charlton Athletic, becoming the first side to win three consecutive promotions in the top five leagues.

Doubtless the game will feature in the forthcoming series of the documentary, which has chronicled the fortunes of both club, town and its unlikely sporting heroes.

Wrexham A.F.C are affectionately known as the Red Dragons, and they have been positively roaring since the two actors stepped in.

The third oldest football club in existence (founded in 1864), it has leapt from fifth division to the once unthinkable and unprecedented third promotion in three seasons, to the Championship.

Local taxi driver Bryan Still, who went to his first game, aged six, in 1972, was one of the first to know about the celebrity buyers but had to keep it a secret

Wrexham Fan Rob Clarke (far R) with family and Ryan (L) and Rob in his DVD store

The town of Wrexham have put the full force of their support behind the American owners

It’s a tale of the triumph of the underdog that could have been written for Hollywood, which in a way it was, shaped by the combined creative prowess, celebrity pulling power and financial clout of Ryan and Rob.

And the town may provide an additional refuge for Ryan and his wife from the ‘deep emotional toll’ the Baldoni case is taking on the couple, according to US reports.

To recap, shortly before Christmas, Blake, 37, issued a lawsuit in which she accused Justin of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her, to which he responded in a lawsuit by accusing Blake and Ryan of defamation and extortion, leading to a whirl of claims and counterclaims.

‘Who wouldn’t want to escape the craziness over there and come here?’ quips one resident when the Mail visited recently.

Supporters were beside themselves with excitement when she appeared in the stands in March 2023 and attended two fixtures, one women’s and one men’s, with all four of the couple’s children – James, Inez, Betty and baby son Olin.

That was long before the shine started coming off Blake’s wholesome golden girl image. It was in August last year that reports of difficulties between her and Baldoni – her co-star and director – during the filming of their movie first emerged.

Since then, the ‘smearing’ of Blake (and counter smearing of Baldoni) has continued online as well with a number of ordinary people who’ve come forward to claim they were allegedly being treated badly by Blake. One commentator on YouTube has called it a ‘#MeToo movement for Hollywood’s little people’.

But in Wrexham, locals are paying the scandal no heed.

Wrexham Stadium temporary grandstand pictured in April 2025

Bookshop owner Rob (pictured L) still chuckles at the memory of when the two Rs rolled up back in 2022: ‘Ryan came in and said he’d never seen so many movies [the stock of DVDs], and this encounter got in the documentary

Mother-of-two Bronwyn Jones, 37, says: ‘I have read about the furore over Blake’s lawsuit and how it is affecting Ryan. It’s a real shame as they seem a lovely couple.

‘I saw Blake at an end of season game. She was on the pitch after the game and meeting all the fans. She was really smiley and friendly – she was signing lots of stuff and going round the pitch to meet people. They will always be welcome here in Wrexham whatever happens.’

Nobody in the city has anything but praise for Rob and Ryan either, who have now flown in and out for more games than anyone ever imagined they would – bringing with them Hollywood glitterati including Channing Tatum and Will Ferrell – and have lived up to their early promise to not just grow the team, but to ‘make a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham’.

The tale of how the pair came together to buy a football team few outside British shores had ever heard of is now well-known – documented by Disney+ on screen and also in print, by Wrexham fan and Mail sports writer Ian Herbert in his book Tinseltown, Hollywood and the Beautiful game: a Match Made in Wrexham.

Bookshop owner Rob, a lifelong Wrexham AFC supporter, became one of the first of the ‘local’ stars of the Disney show.

Ryan later sent Rob a collection of signed DVDs, ‘mostly Deadpool’, which he raffled to raise money for a charity supporting sufferers of a rare blood disorder, which his son Charlie, 11 lives with.

Rob’s full of praise for Rob and Ryan, ‘nice fellas’ and ‘shrewd businessmen’. ‘They’ve built up the brand brilliantly, but we’re benefiting as a club and a town too,’ he says.

Certainly that’s true.

Just a quick peek at the club accounts, published at the end of March, show business is booming. Wrexham’s Disney-fuelled prominence on the international stage saw the club secure record revenue of £26.7m in their latest accounts, up 155 per cent on the previous year.

More than half of that turnover was generated outside the UK, mostly North America, where Wrexham has an entire army of fans. The documentary might not directly contribute to club coffers, but the exposure certainly does – the club’s US sponsors include United Airlines, Meta Quest (Mark Zuckerberg’s virtual reality headsets), Gatorade and STōK Cold Brew, the latter memorably enlisting the advertising support of Sir Anthony Hopkins, as team mascot Wrex the dragon, and more recently Channing Tatum, drilling the team in a Magic Mike-style changing room dance. Sponsors also include Blake’s tonic and mixer brand Betty Buzz.

It was in August last year that reports of difficulties between her and Baldoni (pictured)- her co-star and director – during the filming of their movie first emerged

The town may provide an additional refuge for Ryan and his wife from the ‘deep emotional toll’ the Baldoni case is taking on the couple, according to US reports (pictured Wrexham Stadium)

Mural of former Wrexham Striker Paul Mullin 

According to an expert, Blake should make the most of any further opportunities to spend time in Wales, or indeed in any environment that is less contrived than the Hollywood red carpet

Wrexham A.F.C are affectionately known as the Red Dragons, and they have been positively roaring since the two actors stepped in (Blake, Ryan and David picrured in 2022)

Thanks to the club’s famous owners, tourism revenue has also rocketed in the city, a place once better known for coal mining than holidays – growing by £120m in just three years to £179 million.

Business is booming at The Turf pub which has been the historic backbone of the club, sited as it is in its shadow.

Meanwhile in the city centre, The Fat Boar is another popular haunt, indeed Ryan himself was there in December, with Channing Tatum, buying a round of drinks for the house.

Manager Sean Cooney, 35, says: ‘We got a phone call from their team who said they’d be here in half an hour. They turned up and were lovely. They haven’t been back but the team are in here all the time.’

Of Ryan and Blake, who were rumoured to be buying a home in a nearby village until Ryan put that particular whisper to rest, he adds: ‘You don’t see much of them but they did a circuit of the town when they first got here meeting people.

‘We get lots of tourists especially Canadian and Americans. The Ryan and Rob effect seems to be getting bigger all the time, I mean it must be them as you don’t normally get many Americans coming to Wrexham on holiday.’

Quite.

On the train from London to Wrexham, via Chester, the Mail runs into Tara and Eric Wagner and their daughter Riley, 13.

Hailing from New York, they have been desperate to visit since watching the first series of Welcome to Wrexham.

‘My daughter plays soccer and my husband and I love watching her, and I love Ryan Reynolds as an actor so when I heard the documentary was coming out, we started to watch and just loved the story of the town and the players,’ says Tara.

The Wagners’ tour guide for their visit is Bryan Still, former vice chairman of the club’s Supporter’s Trust whose 2,000 members had to be polled before the club’s sale in November 2020.

Bryan, who went to his first game, aged six, in 1972, was one of the first to know about the celebrity buyers but had to keep it a secret.

‘We put out a statement to members saying we had a potential takeover, but we weren’t allowed to tell them who it was,’ he says.

‘It was unbelievable. Everyone wants to be your friend then, but my view was that if I didn’t tell anyone anything then it could never be me who let the secret out, so I didn’t even tell my wife!’

The open mouths when the identities were unveiled were, he says, a sight to behold.

These days he is busily taking streams of tourists with his welcome to Wrexham walking and taxi tours. He’s even got a US agent managing bookings.

Unsurprisingly he’s effusive about everything the star-sprinkled owners have done, right down to the welcome dose of humour they have provided – the commemorative urinal Ryan gifted to Rob for his 45th birthday, in 2022, a case in point.

‘It’s mind blowing, the impact they’ve had on the football club and the town,’ he says.

As for any off-pitch drama in the life of Ryan and his wife, he says: ‘I think the only way we could unlove Ryan Reynolds was if he wore a Chester [Wrexham’s arch rivals] shirt.’