Breaking News: Blake Lively’s Friendship With Salma Hayek Takes Center Stage Following Taylor Swift Fallout…see more

On May 13, Blake Lively, her sister Robyn and actress Salma Hayek were spotted outside the upscale RH Rooftop Restaurant in New York City.

Photogs swarmed the trio — joined by Blake’s husband, Ryan Reynolds — as they headed for dinner, with Salma and Robyn locking arms, and Blake smiling and placing her arm on Salma’s shoulder.

The two have been friends since costarring in 2012’s Savages, but it was the first time they have been pictured publicly since 2018.

Some are questioning the timing of their outing, which comes as Blake, 37, remains embroiled in her highly publicized legal battle with her It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni. (“Staged!” wrote one online commenter.

“This is definitely a PR move,” sniped another.) The night out came after Blake’s former bestie Taylor Swift was subpoenaed by Justin’s lawyers in early May, leading her to further distance herself from the A Simple Favor star.

(On May 22, Justin’s lawyers withdrew their subpoena.) Salma, 58, appears to be conveniently filling that role. “Yes, Blake and Salma are friends, but a lot of the people around them believe the dinner was orchestrated,” a source tells Star.

“Now that Taylor is avoiding Blake, she needs all the allies she can get.”