Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds made a high-profile return to the spotlight at SNL50: The Anniversary Special, but it was Reynolds’ sharp-witted joke about the Justin Baldoni scandal that grabbed attention.
During a comedic bit with SNL icons Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Reynolds, 48, stood up from the audience alongside Lively, 37, and quipped, "Great—why, what have you heard?" The remark, seemingly referencing the ongoing legal drama surrounding It Ends With Us, immediately set social media on fire.
One user commented on X, "Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively have a huge set of balls. They went on #SNL50thAnniversary just to make fun of bullying Justin Baldoni right before they go to trial for bullying Justin Baldoni. Are they crazy?"
Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively have a huge set of balls. They went on #SNL50thAnniversary just to make fun of bullying Justin Baldoni right before they go to trial for bullying Justin Baldoni. Are they crazy? đ€Ą
— Stephanie Sidley (@StephanieSidley) February 17, 2025
pic.twitter.com/xs0Dmk5ro6
Others picked up on Lively’s reaction, with one fan noting, "The funniest part of Ryan Reynolds speaking with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey was Blake Lively looking terrified bc sis did not know what was going to be said."
The funniest part of Ryan Reynolds speaking with Amy Poehler and Tine Fey was Blake Lively looking terrified bc sis did not know what was going to be said #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/UDJK4BMmzc
— T (@theycallmeT_04) February 17, 2025
The couple’s attendance at the event marked their first major public appearance in nearly two months, following a legal storm in which Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, while Baldoni hit back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane.
While Reynolds’ joke landed with some of the SNL audience—including A-listers like Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Kim Kardashian—others saw it as an ill-timed attempt to downplay serious allegations.
A fan on X reacted, "Ryan Reynolds nearly gave Blake Lively a heart attack at the #SNL50thAnniversary show." Another user criticized the show itself, saying, "How sweet of SNL to try and do damage control for Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively—but it won’t work."
Ryan Reynolds nearly gave Blake Lively a heart attack the #SNL50thAnniversary show đ#SNL50 pic.twitter.com/5c2w2mfmfI
— Pirate Hunter (@sevenseasprod) February 17, 2025
Despite mixed reactions online, the couple appeared unfazed as they mingled with Hollywood’s elite.
As the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni intensifies—with Baldoni’s team releasing private communications to bolster his claims—Reynolds’ lighthearted approach to the controversy has only fueled the conversation. With trial dates looming, the Hollywood drama is far from over, and fans are watching closely to see how it unfolds.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ