Justin Baldoni's counsel may use Ryan Reynolds’ ‘SNL’ joke in defence: Report

Justin Baldoni's legal team is likely to add Ryan Reynolds’ joke at the 'SNL 50' into their defence strategy amid the ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively, stated reports.

Reynolds and his wife Lively attended the 50th-anniversary special of 'Saturday Night Live' on Sunday. This was their first red carpet appearance since the legal controversy surrounding ‘It Ends With Us.’

Ryan Reynolds’ reply

Reportedly, during the live show, Ryan Reynolds was asked how was he doing. He retorted by asking the host what had they heard. Reynolds said, "Excellent! What have you heard, and why?


Many viewers questioned the joke, claiming that accusations of sexual harassment, defamation and extortion are serious issues even though the studio audience found it humorous.

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How Justin Baldoni's team may interpret Ryan Reynolds’ statement

An insider told Page Six that the statement may be interpreted by Baldoni's team as proof that Reynolds and Lively are not considering the lawsuit seriously. The source claimed that unlike the couple, Baldoni is taking the lawsuit seriously and is not making a public mockery of it.

Both parties — Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively — were previously cautioned against making public remarks that could sway. However, it is not clear how Baldoni's lawyers intend to utilise the 'SNL' appearance in court.

Hollywood’s divided reaction

The Page Six report stated that Baldoni's supporters were uncomfortable with Ryan Reynolds’ joke. Some reportedly also believe that Reynolds and Lively should have avoided the high-profile event.

A source told Page Six that the couple has "no regrets" about appearing in spite of the criticism. They said that Lively was initially hesitant, but she was glad she went and had a nice time. The source added that the couple have nothing to hide and no reason to not attend the event.

The Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni lawsuit

The controversy started in December 2024 when Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni, claiming that he had sexually assaulted her while they were working on the movie, It Ends With Us, which was based on Colleen Hoover's book of the same name.

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According a report in The New York Times, Lively also charged Baldoni with planning a smear campaign to damage her reputation.

Baldoni quickly refuted all the accusations and sued Lively, Reynolds and their public relations staff for $400 million, alleging extortion and slander.

FAQs

1. What did Ryan Reynolds say at ‘SNL 50’ that sparked controversy?
Reynolds joked, “Great! Why, what have you heard?” when asked how he was doing, which some felt downplayed the ongoing legal case.


2. What accusations were made against Justin Baldoni?
Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, breach of contract, emotional anguish and invasion of privacy.