Ryan Reynolds' Decision to Poke Fun at Wife Blake Lively's $400Million 'Harassment' Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni Slammed for 'Minimizing' Her Claims — And 'Dissuading Abuse Victims From Coming Forward'
Reynolds made an ill-received joke about the legal drama at the 'Saturday Night Live' 50th Anniversary show.
Feb. 18 2025, Published 1:04 p.m. ET
Ryan Reynolds has all eyes on him after poking fun at his wife's legal troubles.
At the SNL 50th Anniversary Special on Sunday, the actor made light of Blake Lively's bitter feud with Justin Baldoni – leading experts to accuse him of downplaying her claims and potentially discouraging abuse victims from speaking out, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Reynolds has stuck by his wife on red carpets since her bitter legal fight erupted.
Lively, 37, made her first public appearance since filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Baldoni, 41, at the star-studded broadcast alongside her husband.
At one point, presenters Tina Fey and Amy Poehler called on Reynolds, 48, to ask a question from the audience – prompting him to stand up.
Reynolds faced backlash over joking about his wife's lawsuit at the 'SNL 50' event.
After the comedians asked him how things were going, Reynolds seemingly nodded to the storm of headlines surrounding him and Lively.
He responded: "Great – why, what have you heard?"
Lively swiftly turned to her husband with a look of surprise, but soon after, she flashed a small smile – leaving many wondering if she was aware of the joke.
The singer has reportedly been distancing herself from former BFF Blake Lively after getting dragged into her legal mess.
The response from viewers was harsh, with many accusing the Hollywood power couple of leveraging their influence to regain public support after months of negative press.
Shari Botwin, LCSW and author of Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing, cautioned Reynolds may have crossed a line with his joke and noted his choice to downplay his wife's serious allegations creates distance between him and Lively.
She explained: "Jokes about sexual harassment reinforce rape culture, and further silences victims.
"It minimizes and discredits their experience, perpetuating the idea that "no one will believe me or take me seriously.
Baldoni was previously accused of misleading one of his company workers and subjecting him to racial discrimination.
"Joking about sexual harassment insinuates that the victim is to blame, making it even more unlikely that someone will come forward. It normalizes and excuses this type of behavior."
She added: "Reynolds may have stepped out of line by mocking his wife's lawsuit. People tend to joke about issues involving sexual violence because they are uncomfortable, or they do not understand the impact.
"Jokes made by Reynolds about his wife's lawsuit minimizes her claims and distances Reynolds from being her partner in a situation that is Blake's alleged reality."
Manhattan therapist Jonathan Alpert suggested the Deadpool & Wolverine star may have used humor to cope with the uncomfortable situation, noting his quick wit as part of his personality.
However, he cautioned how with serious allegations like sexual harassment, humor can easily cross the line into minimizing the issue.
Alpert added: "While his intention may not have been harmful, public figures have to be mindful of how their words can be interpreted, especially on sensitive topics."
Lively filed an 80-page civil complaint in December 2023 and a federal lawsuit on December 31, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment.
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She claimed he showed explicit content, made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, and engaged in unwanted physical contact while filming a scene for their romantic drama.
Baldoni responded with a $400million countersuit, accusing Lively, her husband, and their publicist of defamation and extortion. Lively's lawsuit also alleged Baldoni made intrusive sexual inquiries.
Reynolds is accused of calling Baldoni a 'predator.'
Additionally, the actress accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment, including entering her trailer while she was nude and letting others watch intimate scenes.
She also claimed he hired a PR team to damage her reputation after she and her husband complained about harassment on set.
Baldoni denied the allegations, stating Lively and Reynolds undermined his direction.
