A crisis at a Connecticut doughnut shop that was dragged into Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni‘s ongoing legal battle got a major update late on Friday.
The It Ends With Us star, 37, was previously part of a PR stunt at Rise Doughnuts in Wilton, Connecticut, where she was called out by fans for the ‘disgusting’ act of not wearing a hairnet while she baked at the shop.
After the Wilton Health Department received complaints about Lively working in the kitchen — which accompanied negative Yelp comments apparently written by overzealous defends of Baldoni — an official investigation into the establishment was launched over alleged unsanitary practices
At issue was allegedly Blake’s decision to briefly work in the establishment’s kitchen without wearing a hair net for her long blond locks.
But the Wilton Health Department later cleared Rise Doughnuts of any health code violations, according to a document outlining its decision obtained by TMZ on Friday.
It indicated that an investigation was launched into the local business as the result of an ‘anonymous’ complaint, but investigators did not find any code violations.
A crisis at a Connecticut doughnut shop that was dragged into Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle got a major update late on Friday
As such, the health department didn’t have any reason to issue fines, and it closed the case.
But even though the bakery is no longer facing an investigation over Blake’s visit, its online reputation appears to be suffering due to online trolls who have gotten wrapped up in the drama between her and her former costar Justin.
After a string of bad reviews began popping up on the doughnut shop’s Yelp page referencing the actress’ appearance, an alert noting that the business was ‘being monitored by Yelp’s Support team for content related to media reports’ was appended to the page.
A ‘Unusual Activity Alert’ graphic was also displayed at the top of the reviews section warning of attempts to alter the business’ ratings.
It said there was ‘increased public attention’ to Rise Doughnuts, ‘which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news.’
New reviews were temporarily blocked in hopes that trolls looking to score points in the Lively–Baldoni battle would lose interest before the doughnut shop became collateral damage.
A source close to Blake told TMZ that the ‘so-called complaints are from people who have never been there and who don’t even live in Connecticut.’
‘Targeting a lovely, small, family-owned business is a new low in the retaliation campaign,’ they added.
An investigation was launched due to an ‘anonymous’ complaint to the local health department, but the investigation was closed with no findings or fines on Friday, according to TMZ
That didn’t stop trolls, many of whom appeared to have gotten wrapped up in the drama between Lively and Baldoni, from leaving negative reviews on Rise Doughnuts’ Yelp page, forcing the site to temporarily block reviews
The troubled 37-year-old captioned BTS footage from Sunday: ‘Baking with genius food friends and their kitchen mixer the size of a car. This is what my happy place looks like…’ She also joked, ‘I must know what this donut’s skincare routine is’ before scarfing it down
Blake documented her visit to the doughnut shop with footage and photos posted to Instagram.
‘Baking with genius food friends and their kitchen mixer the size of a car. This is what my happy place looks like…’ she captioned one post.
A spokesperson for the Wilton Health Department previously confirmed it had received complaints about Lively working in the kitchen without a hairnet, covering, hat, or hair-tie to keep her flaxen mane from shedding all over the $5 craft donuts — and that the business is under investigation.
It’s unclear what possible health code violations, sanctions, or fines could have been enforced on owners Hugh Mangum and Laura Malone, who acquired the former pizzeria in 2022.
Prior to the wave of trolling reviews, Rise Doughnuts had a 4.5 out of five star rating on Yelp.
‘Is it the practice at this doughnut shop to allow employees handling the food to wear their hair loose & hang a few inches above a tray of doughnuts?’ Yelp user J.J. complained in a recent review that got through.
‘Why don’t your employees have to wear hairnets? This does not seem sanitary.’
Yelp user Stephanie T. appears to be one of the people reporting Rise to the health department after claiming to have visited Sunday ‘and found long, stringy hay-like hair in my doughnuts. Perhaps it was from the loud, annoying blond woman working behind the corner.’
It’s unclear what possible health code violations, sanctions, or fines could have been enforced on owners Hugh Mangum (L) and Laura Malone, who acquired the former pizzeria in 2022
Prior to the wave of trolling reviews, Rise Doughnuts had a 4.5 out of five star rating on Yelp
Yelp user J.J. complained in a recent review: ‘Is it the practice at this doughnut shop to allow employees handling the food to wear their hair loose & hang a few inches above a tray of doughnuts? Why don’t your employees have to wear hairnets? This does not seem sanitary’
Yelp user Stephanie T. appears to be one of the people reporting Rise to the health department after claiming to have visited Sunday ‘and found long, stringy hay-like hair in my doughnuts. Perhaps it was from the loud, annoying blond woman working behind the corner’
‘No matter who is baking or serving, food safety guidelines need to be followed,’ Yelp user Wendi C. advised in her review.
‘Friends shouldn’t be hanging out in the food prep areas, leaning on equipment and not having their hair up.’
Yelp user Yiyi Z. claimed in her review: ‘Found a hair in my doughnut, would not recommend. Do the workers not have hygiene training before serving food?’
Yelp user Crystal I. quoted the FDA Food Code and alleged: ‘These basic food safety standards are not followed. Recent pictures and video show no one in this establishment follows protocol. Health inspector has been notified.’
Indeed, Rise Doughnuts posted a silly staff Instagram video on October 11 where none of the employees appear to be wearing hairnets.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Blake Lively. the Wilton Health Department and Rise Doughnuts for comment but has not heard back.
Lively (born Brown) seems to bring backlash wherever she goes with her most recent scandal involving an improvised crotch grab on her costar Henry Golding that she hypocritically admitted to during the DVD commentary of A Simple Favor.
The Secrets of the Penguins narrator is in the midst of a legal war against her It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni, whom she’s accused of sexually harassing her on set.
‘No matter who is baking or serving, food safety guidelines need to be followed,’ Yelp user Wendi C. advised in her review. ‘Friends shouldn’t be hanging out in the food prep areas, leaning on equipment and not having their hair up’
Yelp user Crystal I. quoted the FDA Food Code and alleged: ‘These basic food safety standards are not followed. Recent pictures and video show no one in this establishment follows protocol. Health inspector has been notified’
Indeed, Rise Doughnuts posted a silly staff Instagram video on October 11 that may have been fodder for negative reviews. In the video, none of the employees appear to be wearing hairnets, though most appear to be wearing hats of various styles
Lively seems to bring backlash wherever she goes with her most recent scandal involving an improvised crotch grab on her costar Henry Golding that she hypocritically admitted to during the DVD commentary of A Simple Favor
The Secrets of the Penguins narrator is in the midst of a legal war against her It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni (M, pictured in 2024), whom she’s accused of sexually harassing her on set
It all began December 20 when Blake filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against the 41-year-old filmmaker for sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the Sony Pictures drama, and revealed her side to the New York Times.
Justin immediately filed a libel lawsuit for $250M against the New York Times for allegedly biased coverage of Lively’s California complaint and she filed a lawsuit against him and his PR team on December 31 for his alleged ‘plan to undermine her reputation in retaliation’ with a “vicious smear campaign” in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment.
All of the parties deny the allegations against them.
On January 16, Baldoni filed a second $400M lawsuit against the Gossip Girl alum, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
The federal trial in the Southern District of New York, in Manhattan, is currently scheduled for March 2026.
Baldoni’s court papers allege evidence that Blake – who requires ‘authorship’ on all her films – appears to have masterminded a takeover of the It Ends with Us script, wardrobe, score, and editing departments by threatening to pull out of promoting the domestic violence drama.
Last August, Lively faced substantial outrage over her treatment of journalists, sarcastically answering questions about DV in her movie, and floral-filled Barbie-style promotion directly tied to her haircare and booze brands.
The Deadpool & Wolverine actress was also accused of having two of her friends (including director Paul Feig’s wife) pose as ordinary fans with her outside the Paramount Theatre in Austin for the SXSW premiere of Another Simple Favor on March 7.
Blake reprised her role as bride-to-be Emily Nelson, who’s somehow free after being sentenced to 20 years in prison for the double murder of her father and sister, in the Italian-set sequel premiering May 1 on Prime Video.
Another Simple Favor also features Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua Satine, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Elizabeth Perkins, Alex Newell, and Allison Janney.
