‘SNL’ denies claims that Ryan Reynolds’ Justin Baldoni joke was “his idea”

22 February, 2025

Ryan Reynolds

A spokesperson for Saturday Night Live has denied claims that Ryan Reynolds pitched a joke that alluded to the ongoing legal feud between his wife Blake Lively and film-maker Justin Baldoni during SNL50.

The anniversary show aired last Sunday (January 16), and saw former show cast members Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host a segment where they took questions from the audience, which was filled with celebrities.

As the Deadpool and Wolverine actor stood up to ask a question, they asked: “Ryan! How’s it going?”, to which Reynolds replied: “Great! Why, what have you heard?”  Lively was by his side and looked surprised initially, but soon broke into a smile as it was revealed to be part of the joke.

The joke nodded to the ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldonim following their collaboration on the 2024 romantic drama It Ends With Us, which recently resulted in a controversial Hollywood Reporter cover, in which the pair are reimagined in a David and Goliath-esque scene.

After Reynolds’ joke aired, the show’s long-time cue card holder Wally Feresten – who has worked at the sketch comedy series for 35 years – took to the Fifi, Fev and Nick podcast to shed some light.

“He had a different line in rehearsal, and he pitched that to replace it. So, that was his idea to do it,” Feresten claimed, adding: “We wouldn’t want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it.”

However, an SNL spokesperson has since denied Feresten’s claim to The Hollywood Reporter, and noted he is not involved in the show’s creative process. A source close to Reynolds also told the publication the opening joke was pitched by SNL and never changed, and that the follow-up joke was rewritten in rehearsal.

Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. CREDIT: John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

The legal battle seemingly referenced in the joke began back in December, when Lively filed a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni. In it, she accused him of “inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour” and claimed he was trying to “destroy” her reputation.

Baldoni has denied all accusations and countersued on January 16, including Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane in the suit. In the aftermath of Lively’s suit, Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME). He also had a women’s solidarity award rescinded.

More recently, an amended complaint was filed by Lively earlier this week (February 18), in which she alleged that she wasn’t the only one made to feel uncomfortable by Baldoni, and two other actors would be willing to testify as much in court.

In addition, a defamation claim has been added to the suit, Lively alleged that Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has issued “inflammatory content to media outlets” and has been “saying anything, whether true or false, that will harm Ms. Lively’s credibility and intimidate others from speaking up on her behalf.”

Crisis PR representative Jed Wallace, who has worked with Baldoni’s team, is now named as a defendant in the suit along with his company, Street Relations Inc.

In a statement to Variety, Baldoni and Wayfarer’s legal team said: “Our clients have been transparent in providing receipts, real time documents and video showing a completely different story than what has been manipulated and cherry picked to the media.

“Our clients have taken this matter and these issues very seriously notwithstanding the jokes made publicly by the plaintiff and her husband.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

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