Ryan Reynolds recently caused a stir with his appearance at the opening night of Hugh Jackman’s “From New York With Love” residency at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.
The actor, who looked noticeably unwell, appeared gaunt and had an unnatural spray-tanned hue to his complexion, sparking concern among fans.
Reynolds, 48, seemed to be struggling physically, as he sweated through his beige embroidered shirt while attending the event last Friday.
Many were quick to notice that he looked far from his usual self, leading to a flurry of concerned comments on social media.
Legal Drama Takes a Toll
The visibly troubled actor has been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with Justin Baldoni, the director and star of his wife Blake Lively’s recent film It Ends With Us.
The couple’s ongoing legal disputes are clearly taking a toll on Reynolds, who has been publicly involved in multiple lawsuits.
The stress from the legal drama, which includes defamation and sexual harassment claims, appears to have affected him deeply.
A Lighthearted Moment With Hugh Jackman
Despite his evident struggles, Reynolds attempted to bring some levity to the evening by taking the stage with his longtime friend Hugh Jackman.
The actor, known for his roles in Deadpool and Wolverine, tried to reignite the magic of his past blockbuster successes by heaping praise on Jackman during the “Hugh & A” segment.
Reynolds joked that he was told the show would be a “comedy version of Les Mis as a one-man show,” adding that he and others had initially doubted the idea but now saw Jackman’s persistence paying off.
Reynolds didn’t stop there, calling Jackman a “capital M movie star” and praising his kindness and professionalism.
“He’s the best human being I know,” Reynolds said, speaking fondly of his friend.
Fans React to the Public Display
However, fans quickly took to social media to express their concerns about Reynolds’ health and the apparent public relations stunt.
Instagram users flooded the comments, with many stating that he seemed “unwell” and “struggling inside.”
One user even suggested, “Take a break, RR,” while others criticized the event as an attempt at damage control amidst ongoing public controversy.
Some fans accused Reynolds of trying too hard to regain public favor. “The PR stunt is SCREAMING in our faces,” one Instagram user remarked.
Another called it “embarrassing” and questioned his motives, saying it was clear he and Lively were attempting to erase the negative attention surrounding them.
Legal Chaos Continues
Meanwhile, the legal battle continues to unfold.
Just days before the event, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds had their attorney, Esra Hudson, request a gag order from a federal judge in light of “extrajudicial statements” being made by Baldoni’s lawyer, Kevin Fritz.
This legal war began in December when Blake filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, which led to a flurry of lawsuits, including a libel case from Baldoni and a civil extortion suit from him against the couple.
As the couple’s legal woes mount, it remains to be seen how they will navigate these challenges and whether their attempts at public damage control will have the desired effect.