Ryan Reynolds blasted for 'blatant PR stunt' as he fails to win over fans amid Blake Lively lawsuit
Ryan Reynolds has been slammed after appearing on Conan O'Brien's podcast - with listeners declaring his latest appearance was a 'blatant PR stunt.'
The 48-year-old actor, who has been embroiled in wife Blake Lively 's legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, was a guest on the 62-year-old's show Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend.
Reynolds discussed his early career and his comedy regrets while unleashing quip after quip but failed to win over the audience and, notably, did not mention his wife or the ongoing drama, much to the chagrin of listeners.
'At this point, I think it's Ryan Reynolds that needs a friend,' one user commented.
'Tbh I don't even care about his business behind the scenes with the lawsuit and whatnot... the problem is that Ryan is not even remotely funny. This is the only time I've ever questioned Conan's judgement,' declared one.
Another user shared: 'Thoughts and prayers to Conan and the gang for having to spend time with Ryan,' while another observed that the conversation 'feels like he's just reciting jokes he came up with weeks ago and not actually having a real conversation.'
'"I regret hurting someone 22 years ago." Ryan you can't think of anyyyyyyyyone else from more recent times? Interesting,' snarked someone else.
'I loved the gigantic elephant in the room,' joked another listener.
'Not exactly the most subtle of manipulated PR moves, Ryan Reynolds. I would love to see the full list of topics that Conan was asked not to mention in this interview,' one curious fan wrote.
'Ryan and Blake's PR team is working hella overtime these days huh? lol,' chimed in another.
Someone else described the Emmy-award winning actor as a 'personality demon.'
'He's not funny,' they declared. 'He just goes around pretending to be other people.'
In the near hour-long interview, Reynolds spoke about his rise to fame and joked about his regrets - with the interview being kept light-hearted with no mention of his recent controversies surrounding his involvement with the It Ends With Us drama or Lively.
The Deadpool actor was talking about his creative process, when O'Brien asked him about his projects.
After praising O'Brien for never 'punching down' on people during his comedic sets, Reynolds claimed that he too enjoys being the butt of the joke and rarely makes fun of people.
'Like I've done it I did it once in my life and I deeply, deeply regretted it,' the actor admitted.
He failed to win over the audience and notably, did not mention his wife or the ongoing drama, much to the chagrin of the listeners
'It was 22 years ago and it was such a lesson I'll never forget it,' he continued.
'It was a little bit like when the just the comedian or the guy with the microphone starts picking on someone, and you're just like they don't have a microphone as well. It's not fair you know,' he explained. 'It left a mark that I'll never ever [forget].'
Reynolds said he felt so terrible he ended up sending a 'long letter' and a case of champagne, but later read a story that left him horrified.
'I read a story about his wife saying that he fell off the wagon back in June [and] I had no idea,' he admitted.
'This was before you don't just Google someone, like I didn't know,' he anguished.
'So you mocked him and then your apology was to send him the substance that he had successfully kicked,' O'Brien asked.
'And then so that's where I got the lesson to never apologize,' Reynolds joked.
Earlier in the week, Reynolds was seen leaving a studio in New York where he had filmed an appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert - his first TV interview since Lively filed her complaint against Baldoni.
The Gossip Girl alum has been embroiled in a bitter and extremely public feud with her former costar for months.
It began after she filed a lawsuit against Justin in December, accusing him of sexual harassment and creating a 'hostile work environment on set.'
Justin, 41, retaliated with his own $400 million filing against the actress, along with her husband with the brutal melee now scheduled for a trial on March 29, 2026. All parties have denied the claims.
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