Ryan Reynolds sparks online debate over pronouns used in Mother’s Day tribute to Blake Lively

Fans argued that the language was affectionate and consistent with the couple’s well-known playful style

Ryan Reynolds is drawing attention online after fans reacted to the wording of his recent Mother’s Day tribute to wife Blake Lively.

In an Instagram post shared on Mother’s Day, Reynolds praised Lively as “fearless” and celebrated her role as the mother of their four children. However, some social media users focused on one portion of the message in which he referred to Lively using “this” and “them,” a phrasing that sparked debate over whether the wording sounded impersonal.

Despite the criticism, many fans defended Reynolds, arguing that the language was clearly affectionate and consistent with the couple’s well-known playful style of communication. Reynolds and Lively have long used humorous and unconventional wording in social media tributes to each other.

The post came shortly after Lively and Justin Baldoni reached a settlement in their highly publicised legal dispute related to It Ends With Us. Reynolds did not address the lawsuit directly, but his message was widely interpreted as a public show of support for his wife.

Neither Reynolds nor Lively has responded publicly to the online commentary about the post.

While the pronoun debate generated headlines, the overall tone of Reynolds’ tribute was one of admiration and gratitude, with the actor honoring Lively for her strength and devotion to their family.