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Ryan Reynolds’ SNL Joke Sparks Outrage Over Blake Lively’s Harassment Claims!

BBG News

Ryan Reynold’s playful jabs about Blake Lively’s controversial incident involving Justin Baldoni might be perceived as downplaying the severity of her allegations. This light-hearted approach could potentially discourage other victims of abuse from speaking out, according to some experts.

37-year-old, full of energy, made an appearance at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special on Sunday evening alongside her husband, which was her first high-profile event since she filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, 41, for alleged sexual harassment towards the end of last year.

During the broadcast, Reynolds made a joke as he took part in a Q&A with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

‘I have a question,’ he said, to which Fey replied: ‘Oh Ryan Reynolds, how’s it going?’

In an apparent nod to the maelstrom of headlines, he responded: ‘Great – why, what have you heard?’

Viewers’ responses were typically harsh, as numerous individuals criticized the influential Hollywood pair for supposedly leveraging their influence to regain public approval following several negative news stories over the past few months.

Shari Botwin, a licensed clinical social worker and author of Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing, expressed concern that Reynolds’ comment might have crossed a boundary. Moreover, she suggested that by joking about his wife’s severe allegations, he may be inadvertently creating some distance from Lively.

As a passionate advocate for justice, I’ve come to realize that humor revolving around sexual harassment serves to strengthen the insidious norm of rape culture. This, in turn, muffles the voices of those who have been victimized. I shared this perspective with DailyMail.com on an exclusive basis.

‘It undermines and invalidates their account, reinforcing the belief that “people won’t trust or give importance to what I say.”‘

Making light of sexual harassment implies that the victim is at fault, which makes it less likely for someone to report such incidents. This attitude helps to normalize and justify such inappropriate behavior.

She added: “Reynolds might have overstepped a boundary with his jest about his wife’s legal case. Often, people make light of sensitive matters like sexual violence due to discomfort or lack of comprehension regarding its effects.

‘Reynolds’ jokes regarding his wife’s lawsuit seem to diminish the gravity of her allegations, which may suggest he’s not fully supporting her during a challenging time that reportedly involves Blake.’

In another location, therapist Jonathan Alpert from Manhattan suggested that Reynolds might have employed humor as a means to handle an awkward moment, given that his sharp sense of humor is a distinctive trait of his character.

He noted: “But, it’s crucial to recognize that humor can serve as a means of coping in sensitive situations, such as handling serious accusations of sexual harassment. Yet, there’s a delicate balance to maintain; otherwise, it might seem like we’re downplaying the significance of the matter.

Even if a public figure doesn’t intend harm, they should always consider the potential impact of their words, particularly when discussing delicate subjects. The way their messages are understood can greatly affect public perception.

Last year, Lively garnered attention after filing a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against Baldoni, an explosive claim that made news headlines.

On December 20th, the actress submitted an 80-page civil claim to the California Civil Rights Department. Then, on December 31st, she formally initiated a federal lawsuit.

In response, Baldoni filed a counterclaim worth $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane.

In her statement, Lively claimed that Baldoni shared with her explicit videos and images of other females, openly talked about his battles with pornography, and made uncomfortable comments regarding her physical attributes and body weight.

Additionally, she alleges that he spontaneously acted out an intimate physical interaction during the scene, without any prior arrangements or rehearsals.

A report claims that in one instance, Baldoni was said to have gently nibbled and sucked on Ms. Lively’s lower lip several times while filming, apparently persistently requesting re-takes even though she seemed visibly uncomfortable.

The legal claim asserts that Baldoni posed sexually-charged questions, such as inquiring whether Lively and her spouse ever reached orgasms at the same time – a query she considered inappropriate and declined to respond to.

In addition to the accusations, it was also claimed that the ex-star from “Jane The Virgin” had entered another person’s trailer while they were naked, allowing their friends to observe her filming intimate scenes and engaging in other actions that fostered an uncomfortable or hostile work environment.

Additionally, she alleged that he had hired a crisis management team to execute a multi-level strategy aimed at damaging her reputation, following their complaints about persistent sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on set.

In response to the claims, Baldoni has refuted them, while Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane have all denied the accusations brought up in the legal case by the actor.

In legal documents, he asserted that they attempted to seize control and sabotage his role as director of “It Ends with Us.

The video clips obtained by DailyMail.com seem to contradict Lively’s account of what transpired while filming the scene where she claimed he made her repeat the kisses against her will.

Baldoni’s legal team set up a site to counter Lively’s allegations, sharing confidential correspondence like text messages that were submitted as evidence in court documents, providing insights into his dealings with the actress and Reynolds while producing the film.

The parents, having four kids together, have been hit by a surge of animosity due to their ongoing dispute. His joke on Saturday Night Live failed to lessen the increasing disapproval towards them.

The surprising skit prompted a widespread sharing of Kevin Costner’s response, which seemed to show him frowning in disapproval as Reynolds jokingly addressed the significant accusations.

One social media user commented, ‘We’re like Kevin Costner here,’ implying that others need to account for their actions. Blake and Ryan have some questions to answer, and what they did to Justin Baldoni is absolutely not humorous. #SNL50.

A different person added: ‘Wasn’t that Kevin Costner seated beside her? He seemed quite unimpressed when Ryan Reynolds told his less-than-amusing jest.’

Reports to DailyMail.com indicate that the joke didn’t go down well behind the scenes, as some guests seemed uneasy and hesitant about interacting with the couple due to the ongoing controversy.

Baldoni has yet to publicly react to Sunday night’s skit. 

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2025-02-18 01:08

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