Ryan Reynolds’ joke during SNL’s 50th Anniversary special sparked controversy, but a staff member from the show clarified that the bit was planned and rehearsed in advance.
The Deadpool & Wolverine star made a joke referencing his and his wife Blake Lively’s legal dispute with Justin Baldoni, which drew strong negative reactions, including from Baldoni’s lawyer.
SNL Spokesperson Denies Staffers’ Statement About Ryan Reynolds’ SNL 50 Joke
Ryan Reynolds made a cameo in the SNL 50: Anniversary Special's Audience Q&A on February 16, where he quipped about the ongoing legal battle between him, his wife Blake Lively, and Justin Baldoni.
When asked by show alums Tina Fey and Amy Poehler how he was doing, the Hollywood actor responded, “Great, why? What have you heard?”
Reynolds’ line had the audience laughing, but it also made headlines, as the ongoing dispute between Lively and Baldoni has drawn public attention for months.
An SNL staff member, Wally Feresten, who has been a cue card handler for the show for 35 years, revealed on an Australian podcast that Reynolds’ remark during the special was improvised.
"We wouldn't want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it," Feresten said on the Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show on Tuesday, claiming that the joke was Reynolds’ idea.
However, an SNL spokesperson denied the longtime employee’s claim, stating that he is not a credited writer for the show.
A source close to Reynolds told The Hollywood Reporter on February 20, “The opening joke was pitched by SNL and never changed.”
“The follow-up joke was rewritten in rehearsal,” the source added, referring to Reynolds’ question about whether the Conehead prosthetics were edible.
Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Reacts to Ryan Reynolds’ Joke
Reynolds referencing the Lively-Baldoni case was not well-received by Baldoni’s attorney, who had something to say about the opening joke.
Lively, who worked with Baldoni in their 2024 drama film It Ends With Us, told the media that the Jane the Virgin actor had allegedly sexually harassed her during production and accused him of launching a smear campaign against her.
Attorney Bryan Freedman addressed the matter on Billy Bush’s Hot Mics podcast on February 17:
“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that.”
Freedman said on the podcast that the SNL bit caught him off guard. He also told Bush that Baldoni, who filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, is currently on vacation with his family and trying to “get an assemblance of peace.”
What are your thoughts on Reynolds’ scripted lines on SNL? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Be sure to follow our official Facebook page to stay up to date with all your favorite TV shows and celebrities!