What was meant to be a lighthearted moment quickly turned into a controversy.
Ryan Reynolds, known for his quick wit, found himself at the center of criticism after making a joke during SNL50: The Anniversary Special.
His quip, seemingly referencing the ongoing legal drama involving his wife, Blake Lively, and her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni, left many feeling uncomfortable.
During a Q&A segment with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Reynolds playfully asked, “Great—why, what have you heard?” in response to Fey greeting him.
While it may have seemed like an innocent joke, it didn’t sit well with audiences, especially considering the gravity of the allegations against Baldoni.
Viewers quickly took to social media, accusing Reynolds and Lively of attempting to shift public opinion in their favor.
Experts Weigh In: Why This Joke Was Problematic
Mental health professionals and advocates for abuse survivors were among those who spoke out.
Shari Botwin, LCSW, author of Thriving After Trauma, expressed concern that Reynolds’ humor downplayed the severity of Lively’s accusations.
She emphasized that joking about sexual harassment not only invalidates victims’ experiences but also reinforces a culture of silence around these issues.
“Jokes like these normalize and excuse harmful behavior,” Botwin explained.
“They send a message that victims won’t be taken seriously.”
She also noted that humor is often used as a coping mechanism, but in this case, it may have distanced Reynolds from supporting his wife during a difficult time.
Similarly, Manhattan psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert noted that Reynolds’ signature sarcasm may have been an attempt to navigate an uncomfortable situation.
However, he warned that when it comes to serious allegations like sexual harassment, there’s a fine line between using humor to diffuse tension and trivializing the issue altogether.
The Ongoing Legal Battle Between Lively and Baldoni
Blake Lively, 37, first made headlines when she accused Justin Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed late last year.
In an 80-page civil complaint, Lively detailed allegations that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior on set, including showing her explicit videos, making comments about her appearance, and improvising intimate scenes without prior discussion.
Among the most shocking claims, Lively alleged that Baldoni “discreetly bit and sucked on her lower lip” during multiple takes, despite her discomfort.
She also accused him of entering her trailer while she was nude and allowing friends to watch her film intimate scenes.
The lawsuit painted a picture of a hostile work environment, leading Lively and Reynolds to voice their concerns.
Baldoni, however, did not take the allegations lightly. He fired back with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane of defamation and extortion.
He also alleged that they sought to undermine his role as director of It Ends With Us.
As part of his defense, Baldoni’s team launched a website to share private text messages and behind-the-scenes footage, aiming to dispute Lively’s claims.
Public Reaction: A Growing Divide
As tensions continue to rise, Reynolds’ joke has done little to ease public perception of the couple.
Social media users were quick to call him out, with many pointing to Kevin Costner’s reaction as a highlight of the evening.
The Oscar-winning actor’s apparent grimace when Reynolds made the joke quickly went viral, with one user commenting, “The rest of us are Kevin Costner.”
Others questioned why Reynolds and Lively would joke about such a sensitive subject.
One tweet read, “Blake and Ryan have some explaining to do.
What they did to Justin Baldoni is not funny at all.” Reports from inside the SNL50 event suggest that the joke wasn’t well received backstage either, with sources claiming some attendees were hesitant to interact with the couple amid the scandal.
What Happens Next?
While Baldoni has yet to respond publicly to Reynolds’ joke, the legal battle is far from over.
With lawsuits pending on both sides, more details are likely to emerge in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Reynolds and Lively may need to reconsider their public approach as they navigate this challenging chapter in their lives.
One thing is clear—this controversy is nowhere near finished, and the couple’s attempt at humor might have only made things worse.
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