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Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ryan Reynolds pitched 'SNL 50' joke about Justin Baldoni lawsuit: 'That was his idea,' claims staffer
Ryan Reynolds is at the center of controversy after an 'SNL 50' staffer claimed he was behind the joke referencing his wife Blake Lively's legal drama with Justin Baldoni. During the anniversary special, Reynolds stood up from his seat next to Lively for a segment with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, where he quipped, 'Great! Why? What have you heard?'—a remark that many believe alluded to Lively's legal battle with her former 'It Ends With Us' co-star. Wally Feresten, the show's longtime cue card handler, alleged on the 'Fifi, Fev and Nick' podcast that the joke was Reynolds' own idea. 'He had a different line in rehearsal and he pitched that to replace it,' Feresten claimed. 'That was his idea.' The 'SNL' staffer added, 'We wouldn't want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it.' However, a source close to Reynolds has denied the claims, as has NBC. The backlash was swift. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, weighed in on the moment during an appearance on 'Hot Mics with Billy Bush,' saying, 'I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. So it surprised me.' An insider later told Page Six that Baldoni's legal team may use Reynolds and Lively's 'SNL 50' appearance to their advantage. 'Justin is taking this lawsuit in all seriousness and isn't making a public mockery out of it,' the source said. The controversy escalated when Lively filed an amended complaint in a New York federal court following the backlash to Reynolds' joke. The new legal documents reportedly allege that other women involved with the film have come forward, claiming Baldoni's actions on set made them uncomfortable. Meanwhile, social media reactions have been divided, with some calling Reynolds' joke 'tone-deaf' and others defending it as a harmless remark. 'Gross. So they're supporting the bullies too,' one social media user commented, while another wrote, 'SNL has always been sooo problematic. Highlighting the abusers while making fun of the victims.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Baldoni's Lawyer Breaks Silence On Ryan Reynolds' 'SNL' Joke
's attorney is weighing in on and ' recent public appearance as the legal battle surrounding "It Ends with Us" continues to unfold. The couple made a high-profile return to the spotlight at "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" on Sunday, February 16, in New York City. Reynolds and Lively walked the red carpet together and later took their seats in the audience for the star-studded live taping. While the two seemed to put on a united front, Justin Baldoni's lawyer claims it was just another "move." During the show, Reynolds appeared to make a subtle reference to the ongoing lawsuits involving Baldoni. When asked on stage, "How's it going?" Reynolds, with Lively by his side, quipped, "Great, why? What have you heard?" before continuing with the segment. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, addressed the moment while speaking on "Hot Mics with Billy Bush" on February 17, calling it the "latest move" from Lively's team. "I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation," Freedman stated. "I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. It surprised me." A new development in the ongoing legal battle involving Baldoni suggests that Reynolds' recent joke on "SNL 50" could be a point of discussion in Baldoni's defense. An insider close to the case told Page Six that Reynolds' decision to address the lawsuit in a public setting may not go unnoticed by Baldoni's legal team. "It's very plausible that Justin's legal team will use this public outing to defend him," the source explained. The insider also noted the stark contrast in how both sides are handling the case, stating, "Justin is taking this lawsuit in all seriousness and isn't making a public mockery out of it." While it remains unclear exactly how Baldoni's attorneys might incorporate the "SNL" moment into their case, legal teams on both sides had previously been cautioned against making public statements or actions that could sway a potential jury. According to the source, some in Hollywood found the moment questionable as well. "People in Hollywood think Blake and Ryan attending the 'SNL 50th Anniversary' show was not a good look," the insider revealed. "They think they should have sat this one out." Despite the mixed reactions, another source indicated that Reynolds and Lively have no regrets about attending the event. "They have no regrets about making an appearance at the show," the insider said, adding that the couple remained at Studio 8H long after the cameras stopped rolling. "Blake was initially hesitant to attend the 'SNL 50th Anniversary' show, but ultimately, she's glad she attended and had a really nice time," the source continued. The couple remains firm in their decision, with the insider emphasizing, "They're glad they showed up because they have nothing to hide and no reason not to." Freedman also noted that Baldoni remains "hopeful" about the situation but pushed back against characterizing the actor's recent trip to Hawaii with his wife and children as a getaway. "I wouldn't call it vacation. I don't think anybody who has been accused of heinous, arguably what are crimes is on 'vacation,'" Freedman said during "Hot Mics with Billy Bush." "I think he is trying to gather with his family and get some semblance of peace." The legal battle between the Hollywood figures escalated in December when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, his PR team, and members of his company, Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, all claims that Baldoni has denied. In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit in January, accusing Lively, Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times of defamation and extortion. Her lawyers have called his lawsuit "meritless" and said, in part, "This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim." They added at the time, "In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively's complaint, and it will fail." With the trial scheduled for 2026, it remains uncertain whether Baldoni's evidence will stand up in court or if this legal battle will unfold with as much drama as the film itself.
Fox News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Justin Baldoni's lawyer slams Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds' 'SNL50' joke amid sexual harassment lawsuit
Justin Baldoni's lawyer slammed Ryan Reynolds' decision to joke about the "It Ends With Us" star's ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively. Reynolds and Lively appeared at "SNL50" on Feb. 16, where the "Deadpool" star made a cameo. Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation and more in December, months after the film premiered. The actress claimed Baldoni's behavior caused emotional distress in a federal lawsuit filed in January. Baldoni has denied the allegations against him. "I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation," Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said during an appearance on "Hot Mics with Billy Bush." "I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. So it surprised me." Reynolds seemingly poked fun at his and his wife's legal situation and the surrounding media frenzy as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took the stage at Sunday's 50th anniversary celebration. The "SNL" alums spotted Reynolds in the crowd and asked, "How's it going?" Reynolds quickly responded, "Great, why? What have you heard?" The seeming reference to the lawsuits and "It Ends With Us" drama with Baldoni appeared to catch Lively off guard as she looked at her husband with a confused look on her face. "I'm unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can't think of anyone who's done anything like that. So it surprised me." The couple's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" could hurt and help them, a legal expert told Fox News Digital. "It could potentially affect them in the sense that they are out in public and clearly enjoying themselves, which would undercut any claim for emotional distress damages related to Blake's sexual harassment claim," Camron Dowlatshahi, a partner at MSD Lawyers, said. "Typically, people who are severely distressed from sexual harassment are in therapy and trying to avoid publicly discussing and making light of their pending legal matter." While the couple received some hate online, accusing them of trying to manipulate "the public into buying the 'I'm just a nice, funny guy' act" and saying the "SNL" moment was "cringe," Dowlatshahi explained to Fox News Digital that the move "humanizes" the Hollywood couple. "It certainly humanizes Reynolds and Lively to have them out, showing their personalities that for years endeared them to fans. This is yet another indication that the couple (and Baldoni, of course) care more about their image and how the public views them, than underlying legal claims." It seems neither Lively nor Baldoni plan on settling the legal back-and-forth anytime soon. Legal teams for both sides told Judge Lewis Liman that "settlement discussions would be premature," according to a joint letter filed in court and obtained by Fox News Digital. The letter also noted that "the parties agree that mediation and the Discovery Protocols… are inappropriate for this case." The federal judge agreed with the "It Ends With Us" stars and granted the order on Feb. 13.
