Ryan Reynolds’ quip about his wife Blake Lively’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni during the “SNL 50” anniversary special has taken on a life of its own. Now, a longtime “Saturday Night Live” staffer claims Reynolds himself came up with the joke.
Wally Feresten, the show’s veteran cue card writer, revealed on the “Fifi, Fev and Nick” podcast that Reynolds swapped out his original scripted line for the now-infamous wisecrack. “That was his idea,” Feresten said, adding that changes like this wouldn’t be made unless everyone involved was on board.
But Reynolds’ camp is pushing back. A source close to the actor denied the claim, as did NBC. Neither Reynolds nor his representatives have commented publicly on the matter.
The Joke That Stole the Show
During the star-studded anniversary event, Reynolds and Lively sat front and center in the audience. When comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler turned the spotlight on him, Reynolds responded with a seemingly offhand joke:
“Great! Why? What have you heard?”
A simple line. But in the context of the ongoing legal battle involving his wife and Baldoni, it sent shockwaves across Hollywood.
Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, wasn’t laughing. He told “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” that he was “surprised” by Reynolds’ choice to joke about an ongoing legal matter. “I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation,” Freedman said.
Reynolds’ words ignited fierce debate online. Some fans saw it as a lighthearted dig, while others accused him of making light of a serious situation.
Backlash and Legal Implications
Baldoni’s legal team is now considering using Reynolds and Lively’s public appearance at “SNL 50” as part of their defense strategy. An insider told Page Six that they believe the couple’s decision to attend a comedy event in the middle of a lawsuit “was not a good look.”
Meanwhile, Lively took action just hours after the backlash. On Tuesday, she filed an amended complaint in New York federal court, further detailing her allegations against Baldoni.
According to the new filing, additional women are now willing to testify about Baldoni’s alleged misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us. This suggests the case is far from over and may be growing in scope.
Public Reaction: Divided as Ever
As soon as the clip of Reynolds’ joke hit social media, opinions were split.
- “Gross. So they’re supporting the bullies too,” one user commented.
- “SNL has always been sooo problematic. Highlighting the abusers while making fun of the victims,” another wrote.
- Others defended Reynolds, arguing that humor has always been his way of dealing with tough situations.
This isn’t the first time SNL has come under fire for taking real-life scandals and turning them into punchlines. Critics pointed out past moments, like their skit about the Try Guys cheating scandal, as examples of the show’s history of making light of serious issues.
What’s Next?
As the fallout continues, the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni remains ongoing. Lively’s new court filing suggests that this isn’t just a two-sided dispute anymore—it could lead to a broader industry conversation.
For Reynolds, the impact of his joke remains to be seen. Whether it was a harmless punchline or a misstep that will haunt him, Hollywood is watching closely.
