Ryan Reynolds Playfully Jabs at Blake Lively's Legal Saga on SNL50
During the ‘SNL50’ anniversary celebration on February 16, known humorist Ryan Reynolds slyly acknowledged the legal whirlwind involving his wife, Blake Lively, and director Justin Baldoni over the film adaptation of “It Ends With Us.” Though he didn’t directly address the lawsuit, his understated remark had the audience erupting in laughter as he lightly touched on the controversy.
In a lively interactive segment, moderated by “SNL” veterans Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Reynolds rose to his feet in the audience to ask a playful question. Poehler greeted him with a cheerful, “Ryan Reynolds, how’s it going?” To which the “Deadpool” star wittily responded, “Great,” followed by a comedic pause and, “Why, what have you heard?” hinting at the contentious backdrop involving Lively and Baldoni. The quip was met with laughter, while Lively, seated beside him, appeared slightly anxious. Meanwhile, Fey and Poehler played along, feigning ignorance about the headlines surrounding Reynolds and Lively.
Reynolds carried on with his humor by questioning whether the material used to create the famous Coneheads props from the early “SNL” sketches was safe for consumption. “Definitely not edible, and given their 1975 origins, I’d reckon they’re highly toxic,” Fey remarked. Reynolds humorously pressed on, “So if someone, hypothetically, tried a few bites backstage and got too excited, should they seek medical attention?” providing another round of laughs.
The engaging skit, which ran for about eight minutes, featured a star-studded roster of celebrities like Quinta Brunson, Jon Hamm, Nate Bargatze, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Keith Richards, Bad Bunny, Ray Romano, Jason Momoa, and Peyton Manning, each taking turns asking questions to the “SNL” hosts.
The appearance by Reynolds and Lively came amid ongoing legal drama: Lively is embroiled in a public legal dispute with Baldoni. Their trial is set to begin on March 9, 2026. Lively acted alongside and under the directorship of Baldoni in the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” based on the celebrated novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively’s lawsuit accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment during the film’s production and claims he orchestrated a media smear campaign against her. The lawsuit followed her filing of a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department last December, NBC News confirmed from court records.
In retaliation, Baldoni has countersued Lively, Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s PR firm for defamation in a New York U.S. district court, seeking $400 million. Additionally, he’s filed a libel suit against The New York Times for an article published in December 2024 that covered Lively’s allegations.