Source: Ryan Reynolds Did Not Suggest ‘SNL 50’ Joke During Justin Baldoni Controversy
The discussion surrounding Ryan Reynolds’ SNL 50: The Anniversary Special joke amidst his ongoing legal issues with Justin Baldoni persists.
“He had a different line during rehearsal, and he suggested that to replace it,” Wally Feresten, popularly known as Cue Card Wally, claimed on the Tuesday, February 18, episode of the Australian morning radio show Fifi, Fev & Nick.
“That was his concept to execute it,” Feresten added.
He elaborated, “We wouldn’t want to create anything overly controversial unless everyone involved was aware. So indeed, that was his line. That was his idea.”
A source close to Reynolds refuted Feresten’s assertions to Us Weekly, while representatives for SNL stated that Feresten’s claims are “not accurate.”
During the special airing on Sunday, February 16, SNL alumnae Tina Fey and Amy Poehler invited audience celebrities for a Q&A segment. When Reynolds, 48, raised his hand, Fey and Poehler inquired about his well-being.
“[I’m doing] great. Why, what have you heard?” he responded. Reynolds’ spouse, Blake Lively, 37, maintained a neutral expression while seated next to him during the exchange.
Lively is currently entangled in a legal dispute with It Ends With Us director and co-star Baldoni since December 2024. She initially filed a complaint against Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and a hostile work atmosphere. (Lively has since escalated her claims against Baldoni in a lawsuit, which he vehemently denies.)
In January, Baldoni initiated his own lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane for $400 million, accusing them of extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy, among other allegations. Lively’s legal team described Baldoni’s lawsuit as “desperate” in remarks to Us last month. The legal proceedings are scheduled to proceed to trial next year.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, took issue with Reynolds’ SNL 50 joke during a segment on the “Hot Mics With Billy Bush” podcast on February 17.
“I’m not aware of anyone, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has used humor regarding that situation. I can’t think of anyone who has approached it in that manner,” Freedman stated. “So it caught me off guard.”
Nonetheless, former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel commended the Deadpool & Wolverine star for addressing the recent legal turmoil with humor.
“It was absolutely brilliant for SNL to include Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively and to engage with the humor. They are pivotal figures in pop culture. It captures the zeitgeist. Bullseye,” Frankel, 54, remarked in a TikTok video shared on Sunday. “For Ryan and Blake to participate demonstrates pure genius since the best way to handle a storm is to go right through it.”
She further commented, “As I keep stating, nobody knows the actual events, making all the speculation risky and tricky business, but that was a very intelligent move. Bravo.”
On Tuesday, Lively amended her lawsuit against Baldoni, 41, claiming he made other women “uncomfortable” on the set of It Ends With Us. “Our clients have been open about sharing evidence, real-time documents, and videos that present an entirely different narrative than the one that has been manipulated and selectively presented to the media,” stated Baldoni’s lawyer, Freedman, in a statement to Us on Wednesday, February 19. “Our clients are taking these matters very seriously, notwithstanding the public jokes made by the plaintiff and her husband.”
